M. L*
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 01433 6918
REYNOLDS IflSTORlCAC
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
t 4.128t
7051043
- A HISTORY
of
THE THRASHER FAMILY
Traced Through
THE EIGHTEENTH AND NINETEENTH CENTURIES
in
ENGLAND AND AMERICA
WASHINGTON MEMORIAE LIBRARY
By Dr. Marion Thrasher
San Francisco, California
1395
1 8 * a 17
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
FORT WAYNE, INDIANA
7051043
"X\ INTRODUCTORY
fe\ It may seem strange that a resident upon the Pacific Coast should
attempt to writa the history of a family, found for the most part upon
the Atlantic Slope, and in the States east of the Rocky Mountains.
But the writer has resided in many of the Eastern and Middle States,
and for years has "been tracing the history of this family, whose name
he hears. In publishing this genealogical work, letters have "been
written to England, and to almost every State in the Union.
Wherever we have heard of a Thrasher, from the epitaph of a tomb-
stone in a lonely country village to a name found in a City Directory
of a great metropolitan centre, we have follorred him v/ith a sleuth-
hound's perseverance, usually until our purpose was accomplished.
We have not discovered a Thrasher, but that could be traced to one of
the three original brothers that settled at Redstone, Maryland, in 1750.
We can carry for decades back the standard and throughbred horse,
through annals carefully chronicled, and why should not a human family
however humble, deserve as much consideration? Though' we trace our
ancestral lineage to a king or a peasant, to a philosopher or a fool,
to a priest or a criminal, in any case we can secure much material for
profitable study. Family pride is the common heritage of civilized
men, and the perusal of our ancestral biography is the most fascinating
of all literature. The memoirs collated in this book have been secured
from personal interviews, Bible records, epistolary correspondence, from
newspapers and biographical dictionary, and in the main are believed to
be correct. If I have given more in detail my own branch of the family,
than any other, it is only because I have had better opportunity of
securing information.
Marion Thrasher, A.M., M.D.,
January 1, 1895 1228 Market Street, San Frar.ci - ~ '. ,
California,
THE FAMILY NAME
Some centuries since in England, as well as in other parts of the
Old World, trades descended from father to son, from son to grandson--
indeed, for generations the same vocation was followed.
If a tailor, carpenter or shoemaker; that became the generic name.
To others, some striking peculiarity they possessed would suggest a name,
that would be given. John was seldom heard in England before the Norman
conquest, but afterwards became quite common, because of the popularity
of King John.
Thrasher might have had its origin from two sources, viz.: from
some of the early ancestors being executioners to flay criminals with the
knout, and thus receiving the name of Thrasher — or to some ancestor who had
gained a name as pugilist, and was known and feared, possibly, as a
Thrasher. In England, following the Middle Ages, this was a common method
of receiving the surname. Probably this peculiarity of some --emote an-
cestor, originated this family name, now rather widely scattered over the
earth. We are led to accept this hypothesis for the reason that the
Thrashers as a rule are strong, athletic men, and almost universally long
lived, which is an evidence of great vitality. The founder of the family
as I have traced it, Thomas Thrasher, died in his ninety-ninth year.
Many of the name have distinguished themselves for their courage.
JOHN THRASHER (1730-1806) was a Revolutionary soldier, known for his
bravery and daring.
JOSIAH THRASHER (1763-1849), though a cripple, fought from horseback
In the early Indian wars of Kentucky, and tradition says sent more than
one redskin to his happy hunting ground.
STEPHEN THRASHER' (1760-1833) as Major of Kentucky troops in the war
of 1812 evinced conspicuous courage.
WILLIAM P. THRASHER 11818-1862) fell mortally wounded while fighting
before Winchester on that memorable August 30, 1862.
Dr. D. W. Scott of McDonough, Ga., whose mother was a Thrasher,
writes me: "The Thrashers are a high-minded, honorable people, quick to
resent an insult--in other words, good fighters, v/hen that was the order
of the day."
For centuries Great Britain has been the home of the family. They
may be found today scattered here and there in England, Ireland, Wales.
Mr. Thrasher, a well-known Magistrate, now officiates in the Lav/ Chambers
at Liverpool. At Belfast, Ireland, a Judge Thrasher lives, while in Wales
reside gentleman farmers by that name. John S. Thrasher, the traveler,
historian and journalist, once told the writer that he had found the name
of Thrasher on tombstones in the Strand — in the heart of London. He told
the Hon. Stephen Thrasher of Mississippi, so the latter writes: "That he
had traveled through England looking over records to trace, as far as he
could, the history of the name, and had found many in the ministry and
among the middle classes, but none among the nobility." This would seen
to verify my hypothesis concerning the origin of the name.
PART FIKST
1725-1824 1729-1306
THOS. THRASHER MARTHA THRASHER
(Roth born in Wales, England.)
FIVE CHILDREN.
BENJAMIN THRASHER 1753 JOHN THRASHER 1761-1840
MARY THRASHER 1760 ELI AS THRASHER 1767
HENRIETTA THRASHER (born in Virginia) 1769 '
These Bible records were sent me by Mrs. William Thrasher of Lewisport,
Kentucky, who copied them from an old family Bible that had been handed
dcram through generations.
THOMAS THRASHER (1725-1824), the eldest of three brothers — the other
two being John and William, was born in Wales, England, October 29, 1725.
But little is known of his parents, except that they were endowed with health
and considerable wealth. His ancestors undoubtedly possessed great physical
vitality, for Thomas Thrasher died In 1824, nearly a century old. He
married Martha (her maiden name is unknown) on April 21, 1748, on her nine-
teenth birthday, she having been born on April 21, 1729. We have the
record of five children having been born to them, viz.: Benjamin Thrasher,
born 1758; Mary Thrasher, born January 28, 1760; John Thrasher, born Feb-
ruary 16, 1761^?^rried-:irrrl8SOf Elias Thrasher, born May 4, 1767; Henrietta
Thrasher, born February 14, 1769, died May 8, 1821. From their "marriage
in 1748 to the birth of Benjamin in 1758, was ten years, but no record
could be found chronicling any births during these years. He with his two
other -brothers emigrated, and came to Redstone, Maryland, in about the
year 1750. We know" it was prior to 1769, for on January 23rd of that year
Josiah Thrasher, the great grandfather of the writer, was born to John
Thrasher (Thomas Thrasher's younger brother) who a year previous had
married Elizabeth Hooker. Again we know it was prior to 1767, for Elias
Thrasher, Thomas' fourth child, was born on May 4, 1767, in Virginia,
after Thomas had left Maryland, and taken up his residence in that state.
It was before 1761 even, for in that year John Thrasher, the third
child, was born in Virginia, and subsequently became the founder of that
name in Georgia. Beniamin, Mary and Henrietta Thrasher, children of Thomas
Thrasher, we have been unable to trace, but according to Stephen Thrasher,
Benjamin probably settled in Florida. John Thrasher (1761-1840), the third
child, moved to Clark County, Georgia, at an early day, probably just after
the Revolution. His great grandson, Dr. D. W. Scott of McDonough, Georgia,
gives me a history of this John Thrasher, and his descendants, which I give.
1761-1840
JOHN THRASHER SUSAN BARTON
Ten Children
INFANT died 1738 DAVID 1796-1882
BARTON 1790 SUSAN 1801-1892
RUTH 1792 JOHN 1800
ELIZABETH 1793 FRANCES 1802
ISAAC 1794-1878 MARY 1804
John Thrasher, 1761-1840, and his descendants in Georgia. Compiled
by Dr. D. W. Scott, of McDonough, Ga.
Dr. MarionThrasher, San Francisco.
Dear Sir: I now proceed to give you the history of the Thrasher
Family in Georgia. Family tradition says the family first located in
Maryland and then moved on West. John Thrasher who moved to Clark
County, Ga., judging from natural events, must have been born about
1761, A. D., and died perhaps about 1340. He married a Miss Susan Bar-
ton, whose father was killed by the Indians in Daniel Boone's first ex-
pedition into Kentucky, His wife died first. John Thrasher died at
his son-in-law's, Joe Hugheys, and was buried, I think, in Clark County,
Ga., nov; Oconee, a new county made from Clark and Morgan Counties. John
Thrasher and Susan Barton had born unto them ten children. The oldest
daughter died in infancy. The second, a son named Barton Thrasher (1790)
married a lady named Miss Frances Otes. The third, a daughter, named
Ruth Thrasher, married Robert Trimble. The fourth, a son named Isaac
Thrasher, married Miss Elisabeth Hester. The fifth, a son, named David
Thrasher, born the twenty-fifth of February, 1796, married Miss Mary
Eughey, born September 7, 1798, died May 25, 1863. She was a distant
relative of Jefferson Davis, President of the Southern' Confederacy . The
sirrth, a daughter, named Susan Thrasher, 1798, married Joseph Hughey.
The seventh, a son named JohnJThrs sher, married Miss*Elizabeth Mitchell ._
The eighth, a daughter nsmed Frances Thrasher, 1802, married Fletcher
Foster. The ninth, a daughter named Mary Thrasher, married Anderson
Mi ddl ebr o ok s .
Barton Thrasher, 1790, and Mary Oats, lived in Clark County near
Farmington, now Oconee County, raised seven children, four boys and three
girls. The eldest child named Early Thrasher, married Mary Hester. His
wife died leaving him four children; two of his sons were named Barton
and Albert Thrasher, lawyers, who at one time lived in Atlanta, Ga., and
practiced their profession there. Albert married a Miss-Hayden of that
city, both immigrated to Florida a few years since. Early Thrasher after-
wards married a Miss Brooks. He died about 1879 in Florida; his widow is
still living. Barton's second child, a daughter named Susan, married Dr.
Lewis Anderson; She raised two sons, Barton and James, who live in Madison,
Morgan County, Ga. She died about 1864. The third, a son named Jack
Thrasher, married Marion Williams. He died about 1850, A. D., leaVing a
widow and two children, a son and daughter. His son died while young, his
daughter is still living. Her name is Josephine; she married her cousin,
Barton Overby. She lives at Farmington, Oconee County, Ga. The fourth
child, a son named John Thrasher, never married, and died about 1879. The
fifth child, a daughter, named Cora Thrasher, married Basil Overby, a pro-
minent lawyer of Atlanta, Ga. He ran for Governor of Georgia, on the
Temperance ticket, but was defeated. The sixth child, a son, named Barton
Thrasher, married, but I do not remember the name. He died in 1860, child-
less. The seventh child, a girl, named Frances, married William Anderson.
She and her husband both died about one ye--;r after marriage.
Ruth Thresher 1792, married Robert Trimble, raised six children--
three sons and three daughters. Their son Albert Trimble, lived to be
about fifty years old. He never married. John Trimble m?rried Victori
Simmons, died about 1854, A. D. Eliza Trimble married V/illiam Jackson,
raised two children, the oldest a daughter, Susan Jackson, married Dr.
Parks. Her son's name is Barton Jackson. The mother and daughter are
both dead. Barton Jackson is still living in Jackson County, Ga., near
Vvilder. Susan Trimble married, but I forget her name. Amanda Trimble
married Benjamin Fuller.
Elisabeth Thrasher, 1793, third child of John Thrasher, married Green
Reynolds, raised five daughters. Her oldest daughter, Permelia, married
a Mr. Alberson. She died ? few years ago. Her children live near Alpha-
retta, Ga . The second daughter, Susan Reynolds, married William Robertson.
She died about 1854, X. D. Some of her children I think live in Newton
County, Ga., near Social Circle. The third daughter, Lutitia Reynolds,
married Sphraim Thorn, and lived in Congers, Ga. She died in 1386, A.. D.
She has a daughter, Mrs Jack Pierce, living in Congers, Ga., and several
grandchildren. The fourth child, named Eliza Reynolds, married a man by
the name of Ford. The fifth child, Caroline Reynolds, married Isaac Weaver.
She died in Alabama a number of years ago.
^^- Isaac Thrasher 1794, married Elizabeth Hester; reared six children--
fcur sons and two daughters. The oldest girl's name I forget. She married
Alexander Thrasher. She died about 1846, A. D. Second child, Barton
Thrasher, married a Miss Elder, and had four sons. B. E. Thrasher, of
atkinsville, Ga., and a prominent man. I. C. Thrasher, (farmer). T. K.
•Thrasher, M. D., (a physician of standing ), and G. B. Thrasher, of Beatty-
ville, Ky., a minister in the Baptist Church, of more than ordinary ability.
Third child, named William Thrasher, married I forget whom. Fourth child,
named Susan, married a Mr. V/hitlock, and lived in Clark County, Ga. Fifth,
a son named John Thrasher, a r^ethodist preacher, married Miss Annett Row-
land. He died during the late war and left three children, two sons and
one "daughter. His oldest son named Alonzo Thrasher; second son named
Luther Thrasher, a good boy of high standing. He was killed in Farmington,
Oconee County, Ga., v/hile attending school, by a son of Dr. Price. The
daughter is married; to whom I don't know. Sixth son of Isaac Thrasher
married Amys Watson, died in the war of the Confederacy; left a widow and
two children. David Thrasher, (1796-1882), the fifth son of John Thrasher,
married Miss Mary Hughey, of Morgan County, Ga., twenty-fifth of Jan., 1316.
v David Thrasher, was born January 25, 1796; died June 7, 1882. David
Thrasher and Mary Hughey had fourteen children born unto them, seven sons
and seven daughters. The eldest son was named:,.-
Thomas Barton Thrasher, born November 17, 1816, A. D., married Miss
Frances Travis, and raised seven children--f our sons and three daughters,
Jesse, Thomas, David and William, Bethuel, Fannie and Ellen were their
names. He married the second time to Mrs Tresvant of Lake City, Fla. His
widow still resides in Lake City, Fla. The second child of David Thrasher,
/' John James Thrasher, (called "Cousin John,") on account of his libera-
/ lity and largeness of heart, was born February 24, 1818, A. D., and married
/ Miss Bethuel Skirf, of Fulton County, Ga. He is .the "Cousin John" JThrasher
that built the first house in Atlanta, Ga., that had a plank floor in it,
ahcTsold the first yard of calico ever sold in Atlanta. He Contributed
largely 'to" the erection of the first Baptist Church, which is an elegant
brick building, and now has for its pastor Rev.- J. B. Hawthorne, a man of
extensive reputation in the South as a pulpit orator. He" and his wife
entertained largely, and with a lavish hand and in regal style. They raised
seven children--f our sons and three daughters. He is still living at the
age of 77, in Dade City, Pasco County, Fla., and is the oldest living des-
cendant of John Thrasher and Susan Barton, and is considered one among the
noblest and best men living. He will leave a good and bright record in
this world. His wife is as generous and kind woman as ever lived. They
are universally beloved and respected by all that know them. "Cousin John, "
as called, accumulated considerable wealth in Atlanta, which was mostly
swept away by the war. He represented his County in the Legislature of the
State. "Uncle" John Thrasher had eight children, viz., Jessie S., born
a)
rollov;in- information was obtained frcn the "T:tRA5 tF.K" ^oncological
.cord on fllo In the noorgle Department of Archives and History, In
i-nta, Georgia, and Tills In tho missing data fr»m this uuok:
31 -; (who had si;: childron: Paul, Silas, hary r., fcma, naggie and Ilutc.),
frtoa C David 0., Willis Tdgar, John J. (died nt nine), i:r.r aret V.,
Ky b., Ellen 7. (dead). Ills oldest son. Jessie 5. Thrcsr.cr, is in the
tcantile business at Chattanooga, Tennessee. Conway r.arton inrssucr,
r b. Thrasher, sons or his, are fruit growers and farmers at Dado City,
iorlda. David olivor Thrasher, ex- judge, Attorney at Law, Dado olty,
lo his eldost daughfcr, Eugenie (Jesse i.-rites me t at her nana Is _
r ; 3 , re t Virginia - r 'd.) married a Tr. Earnest; I'xmio worried a Florioiar.
no J 211on a Dr. Torry.
Tho following addod January 1, 1936 by John Jamas Harnett,
Nashville, Tennessee:
Jo -.;, James Thrasher died November 13, l'J99, end is interred Dado City,
io-ida (?asco Co.). Some J-.O ve^r n a * o he r etu rned to Atlanta for a
■eunio n with his fellow pioneer citizens -- VT-sh Collier o, SgUlgS.
ffi[jl5g a5fl Sad GJ5£si ■- QgE Ea JgJkllalL. »» Atlanta Constitution
.cvo.od a couple of full columns with oicturos of the trio, and nucn n
•out the early experiences, including the story ar.ou: tna tine Cousin
: o^n needed a foreman for Bono construction work end located his roan
.ver in Cu-olina, but the nan would not agree to cone unless his who
Kid accompany him; t :e .-.an' s wi^e would only agree to come over pro-
■ided a plank floor was put in the house, so 'Cousin John wont oo
es'-i Collier who then war. KEXX±xxxi±xx conducting a sawmill and sec -red
Sabs to build the first puncheon floor in an Atlanta residence, ^.hen
t was connleted the foreman's wife gave a —a LI" sad o .sin uot.n ,
Cn r i nf8 . hi-h heeled Soanish boots, had tlio Mrst drnco wit-i u.»e l^y.
k\a of V xc "heels 30 1 caught in tho floor tnC was palie j o;h, out
icvcrtholess "Cousin John" continued tie dutiC3. .. •
Vlthou-h 're accumulated considerable wealth, ho never disowned his kin;
in fact "a cousin down in Alabama, hearing of his wealth, sent his two
laughters on an ox-cart, with a brinulo ox and a bale ot co-ton, , -o -:.o
itlantc market. Then they reached Atlanta several offoro-j u> o-uy tneii
Itton, but they insisted on locating "Cousin" John Cnrasnor. *.io
Irious ones followed the girls to soo what John brasher would do and
-ay. He cane out of his store, stepped upon the cart, addressing tne
Prions ones: 'I know why you are '.-.ore, yon thin you w,l 1 sec Jo ^
Iirashor disown his kin, but -ontlo ica cho purest blood _lo./s turo^Ji
thoir veins and any of you she Id fool very nignl; honored, «:*. ^^-J
Sroud, iT you too, i-g I do, co id claim shorn for your .n. I a . ind<_d
fortunate, otc, etc. - -
'To young ladios nor: in co t Co store, picked out a I out ljGO (prbally
JU.00) worth of goods, and when bhoy asked tho amount of tnoii L1I1,
'Cousin" Jo'nn said: 'Ain't /ou my kin?' -- you o-.:o mo notaing. out,
tho young ladies insisted, went down in their secret pockeo, pulled out
1 !a • of ' -old and paid thoir bill.
fc-b)
"Another, and more recent write up o - " Atlanta' s pionoor ciorcliarits
eppecred in the Atlanta Journal, under date of Sunday, Soptonbor lp'th,
193 5} reading in pert:
fTo John Thrashor, familiarly known an "Cousin John", belonged the
honor of erecting the first store near the si to oC Terrsinus, in 1339,
tho settlement which later became Atlanta. Tho store v:as built on the
-round no'./ occupied by tho Federal Resorvc Eani:, where for so many
years the First Presbyterian Church, was situated. Cousin John had
associated with hin a man by the nana of Johnson, and the firm became
known as Johnson a. Thrasher, being tho first business firm, as woll as
the first store in tho embryo village, but "Cousin John" became
discouraged, business did not thrivo in this littlo community of a half
dozen families, so in 1:31,2, just throo yours after he had opened his
store, he sold out and movod to Griffin. Howovor, ho must have 'seen
the error of his ways' , for inspired by its optimism ho returned in
13UU a ^ d established another store en Marietta Street."
('.hile spending t ; :c winter of 1931, in Florida, I had the ploasuro of
mooting ^ or fc bo first time h'illis Edgar Thrasher, tho last surviving
son of J "Cou3in John Thrashor" . I had a couple of most onjoyablo visits
in his homo, listening to him talk of old timos, tho kin, and looking
over some old records and personal belongings -f his father. I found
his favorite sport was fishing, and I had planned to take ny first
deep-soa-fishing trip with him, but very unfortunately a few wooks
later he became ill and passed away, and I attondod his funeral. Much
evidence of tho very high estoem in which he was held, by o largo
number of friends and businoss associates was shown by many very
beautiful floral designs. )
(From b'lllis Edgar Thrasher' s Bible records I secured tho
following information.)
"Willis Edgar Thrasher, son of John J. Tirasher, corn February 21, 1362,
married Jcanot Fallon Cochrane of Dado City, Florida. Sho was horn at
Columbia, Tonn., February 11th, 1363. For the past 33 yoars lon.-ted at
St. Petersburg, Ala. Rosidoacc: 1^3 Fourteenth ~t. ...o. '..'11113 Sdgar
Thrasher diod" October 13, 193U. Inborred Dade City, Florida.
Thoir children aro :
V.'allace Crawford Thrasher, born Jane 2, 1035. He is n contractor
and builder. Married !'ao Edwards of Scranton, Pa. They have o\v> child:
Eleanor I.'aync Crawford, bor . Molir.o, 111. August 23, 1913, t nd in
June 1932 married Robert Taylor, of Scranton, Pa.; thoy have a daughter,
farbara './aync, ' orn on May 19, 193-r«
Scaifo :d-ar Thrashor, second child of ;- illis Ed ;ar Thrasher,
born February 3, 1337, diod at age li;. (Apr. 2, 1901)
Helen Joanot Thrasher, third child of b illis F.dgar Thrashor, born
ffrnuary J, 1339 and married Cleveland 1 runs on, of :ainlridgo, '.a., on
July 29, 1913. '-hey reside 2317 Avenue "F" , Sr.sloy, Ala. .hey have
tv;o children: Ir'.a Elizabeth Hruuson, born Apr. 2nd, 1911. en J hiilia
Samuel Frunaou, 2 orn Fo-c bcr 9, 1917 (no; single).
".ergarct Elizaboth Thrasher, fourth child of billic Edgar Thrasher, born
May 23, 1391, married John lvl.i Motzlor, Jonuar; 31, 1923. Ho wa3
born October 1?, 137>. Mr. Hotzlor Is a building contractor, and they
reside 13^3 Fourteenth St., So., St. Petersburg* Pla., with her mother.
Tnelr children are:
John Alvin Hetzlor, Jr., born St. Petersburg Apr. 1, 1921^
Dorothy Helen I'etzlor, born St. Petersburg -opt. 21, 192^
Robort Erwin Mot:-.lor, born Liltmorc, 11. C, Aug. i|, 1927.
Pauline Pallon Thrasher, born iloline, 111., April 6, 1920
Louis Mdgar Thrasher, born St, Petersburg, April 1;, 1923
David Thrasher's third son, named Albort Conway Thrasher, !, orn December 2,
1319, married Miss Lucy Croor, of Monroe Co., Co. Ko diod in a Pedoral
orison at Camp Douglas, 111., llith day of December, 1361{.. His widow
died in Jackson, -butts Co., Or.., 29th day of March 13673 . 'ihoy reared
five children, one zon, Jusbavus Thrasher (or Augustus), who rcsidoo in
Henry Co., b*a., a prosperous farmer, a prominent citizen, and owns
considerable proporty. Hie- P. 0. Sandy Ridge, Henry Co., ga. His sisters
living are in Rockdale and Henry Co.'s, Ca., one dead, Mr3. Josephine
Sawyer; all highly respected, and married to excellent men.
David Thrasher's fourth child, named lilizaboth Louisa Thrasher, diod
when throo yoar3 old; a child of rare bocuty and Intollect. Sbo died
60 years before her father, yob he mourned for- her as Ion;* as he lived,
and talked about her one week before his death, and wept.
David Thrasher, when young, was Inclined ce be dissipated, though
honorable, upright and tender-hoc rte J; ye he die not- takj an in; ult
if he thought It was intended for him, end he vies certainly plenty
a Me to take ccro of himself. He was of large sine,- arid- hod strength
to back him. He was 6' 2" In height, and a fine appearance and graceful.
Foforo he moved to Newton Co., "a, (P.O. Cora), ho lived near Dojsboro,
in Morgan Co., near the rest of the family, whore the io:i of tho
neighborhood met and drank whiskey and played cards, snd fought for
rocrcatio.:, being of great physical strength, he was •.oriorally fibie
to knock his man out in the first round. One morning, after be had
been up all night, on going homo he had some remorse of conscience,
and cs he approached the house ho saw tho smoko rolling oat of tho
chimney, he know his wife was getting breakfast. He felt so badly
at his conduct he cut a good hickory switch and carried it in the house
end handed it to Polly and told her to givo him a good whipping. Sho
rc'/>li;d, "Ho, David, I want you to enjoy yourself. It so humbled him
that he roformod ar.d qeit fro ;ucntin • Dojsboro. He dated his conversion
to tho death of his little ;irl, joined b;o ".aptiot Church and li'ed a
consistent life,
David Thrasher's fifth child, a da-v "liter, name! Louisa Glome Xinc r _hr*sher
married blnficld Vandigrlff, December 21., 13 2.. A.D., raised so.-..:
children -- four rots and throo da htcrs, all ilviu:. John and! ;riff ,
J ! mes ".. ndi griff , Jo. c. k Yar.dl griff o: 1 Cor;, :'r..b.. Co., 'a.; bilii/m
C. Vandi^riff, of Llthonin, r ,r.,; Mrs. Hat Crow, Mrs. Cloa Livingston,
Cora, How ton Co., Co.; and Mrs. Bettle Cuntor, White House (Ilonry Co.),
.'la. She i3 still living, and a widow sevonty yoars old, a lady of raro
energy and of chcorful disposition, and says her childron aro a ( ^reat
soticfaction to hor in her old n,;o. Her 1'. 0, is Cora, ilewton Co., Ca.
David Thrasher's sir:th child './as a son nanod Josoph Arnstronj Thrasher.
'To was born August 2y, 102^'; ciarriod Elisabeth Thor.ias. He died in
September, 13>3, left a wido;: and three daughters, all of whot:i msrried.
Albort, his oldest dou~htor, married a Eaptist preacher by tho name of
t.illiam Ulnbcurn; Mollic married a Mr. Drov;n. I forgot the third
daughter's name. Joseph Thrasher was a nan of distinction, a prominont
lawyer, and served one torn as Solicitor General of tho Flint Judicial
Circuit, and is the man that prosecuted Murrel, tho noted Highwayman*
Ho was a ssan of gonial disposition, and livod a sincere Christian life.
He died In Atlanta, Georgia, and is burled in Oakland Cenotery.
David Thrasher's soventh child, Susoanna, v:as a twin, born May 22, 1829,
etc. - etc.
fifth, a son, unnamed. Gr.eer: Hull and family Uvea In Rockdale
Countv, Ga., and are doing well— Conyers is his P. 0. ihe nun
cMTd" James irmstrong Scott, born April 17, 1358, a bachelor, a
r„on"of fine ohysioue, and S °°d property, ovals David Thrasher's
old homestead in Cora, Western ffevton County, C-a. He is a planter
w profession, and unusually successful for one of his age. he
lives a quiet life at his beautiful country home, surrounded by
a comoetency. . _ -„-
The sixth child of Jarr.es and Mary Scott, Elizabeth Galula
Scott," was born January 1, I860. Married Mr. D. CCanro, a mer-
chant of Atlanta, Ga., a successful business man. They have a
counle of daughters, Mary Cam? and Nellie Camp, both are bright,
vivacious and beautiful children, with lovely dispositions; the
eldest is about four and the younger two and one-haif years. *rs.
Lulu Camn is highly respected and beloved by her circle of friends;
quiet and reserved and domestic in her habits.
The seventh child, William Albert Scott, born November 13, 1862.
Married Miss Jessie May Blackmon, April 27, 1891, of Choccolocco,
Alabama a lady of sweet disposition and fine personal appearance.
n ; hev have two children born unto them, The eldest, a daughter, iiary
Ross Scott, bom February 3, 1892; the second a son, James Daniel
Scott, born April 8, 1893, both beautiful children.
The eighth child of James and Mary Scott, Mamie Hughey Scott,
born Hay 15, 1867. A lady with rare accomplishments and great
beauty, a devoted daughter and sister and universally esteemed.
Walter Lee Scott, the ninth child and fifth son, lives at the
old home with his mother and sister, is a steady, industrious young
■man and a successful farmer.
David Thrasher's eleventh child, named for him David Hughey
Thrasher, was born May 11, 1833. Married Miss Sarah Hooper of Mon-
roe County, Ga., raised five children--two sons and three daughters,
and died in 1386. His widow and children survive him and live in
Hernando County, Fla. David Hughey Thrasher was a lawyer of talent,
and had the reputation of being a natural orator, and when residing
in Alabama represented his county in the Legislature.
David Thrasher's twelfth child, a daughter named Frances Jane
Thrasher, born March 13, 1835, married Captain James Harper and
reared eight children; P. 0. Camp Hill, Tallapoosa County, Ala., a
woman of rare beauty and energy, and genial disposition. The child-
ren are all doing well and highly respected good citizens and pros-
perous.
David Thrasher's thirteenth child, a daughter, named Martha
Caroline Thrasher, was born March 11, 1837; married Leonard Greer,
died in September, 1863, leaving husband and five children- -two son3
and three daughters. Leonard Greer has a second wife and is living ir
Atlanta. His^oldest daughter, Mrs. Dave Sawyer, lives at Anniston,
Alabama; also a daughter living there, I don't remember her husband's
name. Leonard, the youngest son, lives at Choccolocco, Ala., and
married a Miss Blackmon. One of the daughters married a Mr. Heifner
and lives in Atlanta, Ga. Miss Martha Thrasher was a lady noted for
her beauty and intellect.
-69- (Marriage Bk C)
Sho died when Dr. Russell was an infant, and Robert died in 1888.
Robert^ married twice and reared 2 families of children. Robert's
father, Robert Russell lived and died in Ga. Wife v/aa a member of
the Rutherford family of N.C. Louisa Stone's father was Warren
Stone, born Md. moved to Ga. and then to Lowndes Co Ala. died 1849. etc
Page 320. Bushrod W.Bell to Mrs. Adaline S. Harmon
14 January 1826 (executed 24 Jan. 1825) by
Benajah S.Bibb, J .C .M.C.
One Bushrod W.Bell was in 1850 Census Greene Co. Ala. aged 33
born in Va.. Too young to be the above.
Page 321. Henry L.Hill to Elizabeth McCull<ro&
24 Becember 1825 ( executed Mar. 16,1826) by
Alex. Graham, J. P. f _ , s ._ K .,.„
f
-- : ^-'- 1
• V
Page 322. John Thrasher to Emerd Ann Elizabeth Mitchell \/
January 14,1326 (executed by me, \\S V
James McLemore, J.P. )
Page 323. James Butler to Sarah Sanford
1 September 1826 (executed 16 Sept.) by
John Robertson, J .P. -.
1350 Census Montgomery Co .Ala. District 1,. #'"407-416
Butler, Jas
53
Ga. farmer $200
Sarah
45
it
John
19
Ala. laborer
Benja.
15
it it
Louis
12
tt
Elizabeth
10
it
Martha
8
ii
Henry
6
tt
Ann
1
ii
Payne, Rubin
14
Ga
Butler, V/m
17
Ala. laborer
-^ ^. a& A^
'-t^Cty -
/---• 9^^^ .#. &
1345 (who had six children: Paul (A cage is missing from book "nere)
David Thrasher's seventh child Sussanna, was a twin.j_.born 2<*ay
22, 1829, died when six months old. The eighth child, Wm. Wilson
•Thrasher, born May 22, 1829, married Sarah Greer of Monroe County,
Ga. He and wife are still living in Alabama; I think Montgomery.
They have raised six children--f our boys and two girls. He is of
a quiet disposition, and a devoted Christian of the Baptist Church.
David Thrasher's ninth child, James Cloud Thrasher, was born
May 31, 1830. Married Miss Nancy Travis of Henry County, Ga. She
died and left him with six children. The most of them are living
in or near Quitman, Brooks County, Ga. His oldest son, John Thrasher
is, or has been, sheriff of the County. All good citizens, and do-
ing well. He afterwards married Mrs. Kittie Hughey; his widow is
still living in Jacksonville, Fla., or vicinity. He dealt largely
in stock, and was successful in his business. I have seen several
tributes of respect to his memory speaking in the highest terms of
his character. He was captain of a company from Jackson County, Ga.,
and commanded the company at battle of Shiloh, (Corinth, Miss). He
died at his father's, in Western Newton County, Ga., on South River,
September 26, 1379, and is buried in the Thrasher graveyard, about
half a mile of David Thrasher' 3 old homestead, where he is buried.
David Thr-asher moved here from Morgan County, Ga., and lived and
died on the farm now owned by his grandson, James Armstrong Scott.
The tenth child born unto David Thrasher and Mary Hughey Thrasher
was named
Mary Odom Thrasher, born August 27, 1831, married James Scott,
a son of Daniel Scott and Jemima Walker, and a grandson of William
Scott and Jane Thomas, January 25, 1849, and reared nine children,
five sons and four daughters. James Scott died July 27, 1883, and is
buried in the Scott burial ground, in Western Newton County. Their
children are as follows:
Daniel Winfield Scott, M. D., born December 15, 1849; graduated
from Atlanta Medical College fifth day of March, 187 5, now located
in McDonough, Henry County, Ga., and doing a good general practice.
Married Miss Laura 3tta Sharp December 11th, 1878. She is a descen-
dant, on her paternal grandmother's side, of Oliver Morton, of May-
flower fame, he being one of the Puritans that landed at Plymouth:
on her mother's side, to the Dulins and Forsyths, who settled in
Mecklenburg County, N. C, about twelve miles from Charlotte, near
Philadelphia Church of the Presbyterian denomination. They have two
children born unto them; Adiel Rosac' Scott, born September 18, 1879;
Delia Bay Scott, born June 27, 1881.' The Sharps live in Newton Co.,
Ga. The second child of James and Mary Scott, David Barton Scott,
was born May 16, 1852; killed by a falling tree while hunting, Dec.
4, 1880; a noble young man, beloved by all who knew him, and died
without an. enemy; interred <?t the Scott burial ground in Western
Newton County. "The third child, Ophelia Jane Scott, born December 10,
1853, never married, was a par?gon of virtue and goodness. She lived
for her brothers and sisters; died nugust 20, 0)894; buried at the
S5ne place as the rest of family. The fourth child, Smma Josephine
Scott) born January 26, 1856; married Green Hull, January 26,1831,
?nd have the foil owing children: James Barton Hull, born August 13,
1832; Wilson Mercer Hull, born October 16, 1833; Mary Odom Hull,
born April 13, 1886; Lulu' Rebecca Hull, born January 4, 1890;
Is
ts
David Thrasher' 3 fourteenth child was a daughter named Eliza-
beth S. Thrasher, was born December 7, 1853, married Robert \7.
Sammon, fifth day of December, I860. Her husband died March 19,
1864, leaving her with two children--a son and a daughter; the son
named Robert Walker Sammon, nov; living in New Mexico; her daughter
named Larlelia Sammon, married Frank Medlock of Gwinnett County,
Ga., a very successful farmer and also a fine stock raiser and a
.very prominent citizen.
John Thrasher (1800) was the sixth child af John Thrasher . He
married Miss E l izabeth Mitchell . He raised two boys, the oldest
n^med John- -he died about seven years ago. His family live in J .Ia
Augustus Thrasher, the second son died in Norcross, Ga., in 1884;
left a widow and four children — two boys and two girls. They live
. in Atlanta, Ga.
V Susan Thrasher (1801-1892), married Joseph Hughey. Her hus-
band died about 1844; she died in 1892, aged ninety-one years. She
raised seven children. The oldest, Susan Hughey, married Colonel
James Hunter, of Quitman, Ga., a very prominent lawyer and warm
politician. He was killed a few years ago while in a political dis-
pute. His murderer met justice at the gallows. Susan Hughey' s
second child, a daughter named Mary Hughey, married a gentleman
named Jackson; she has been dead some years. She left two sons,
Luther Jackson, a preacher, who lives at Auburn, Jackson County,
Ga. Her second son, Fulton Jackson, lives at Winder, Ga. Susan
Hughey 's third child, named John Hughey, married Miss Kittie Jack-
son. He died 1859, and left one son, John Hughey. This is the lady
that James Cloud Thrasher married the second time. John Hughey
lives at Jacksonville, Fla. Susan Hughey' s fourth child, named
Olivia, married a Jackson. Her husband died in 1854. She is still
living — her P. 0., V/ilder, Ga. She has one son living in Jackson-
ville,- Fla. Susan Hughey' s fifth child, named David Hughey, married
but. don't remember her name. She died seven years ago. He is still
alive and lives at V/ilder, Ga. Susan Hughey' s sixth child, named
Elizabeth Cloud Hughey, married Jasper Thompson. She died about
1876. Susan Hughey' s seventh child died during the late war.
Frances Thrasher (1802 ) married Fletcher Foster and raised
two children; the oldest, Dr. John Foster, married Miss Martha
Karris; he died about thirty-five years age; left a widow, no child-
ren. Frances Foster's second child, named Margaret, married Emory
Anderson, a Methodist preacher; they are living in Atlanta, Ga. He
is also a real estate agent.
Mary Thrasher (1804 ), John Thrasher's ninth child, married
Anderson Middlebrook, raised four sons, one killed in the late war,
while in service, three still living near Farmington, Oconee Co.,
Ga. Mary Middlebrook' s second child named James Middlebrook, married
Olivia Lenoir Hodgson, I think, a widow. She has a son, an officer
in the United States Navy. She was a beautiful lady with many accom-
plishments. She lives in Farmington, Oconee County, Ga., very quiet
and religious. Maiy Middlebrook' s second child, named Barton, married
Miss Mattie V/atson. He lives near Farmington. Her third son married
Miss Killsman. He is a wealthy farmer near Farmington. He served in
the late war and lost a leg in battle near Richmond, Va.
(7)
I have written all I know and what I could obtain by writing
and otherwise about John Thrasher and his descendants—children,
grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I have done the best I
could with the limited material at hand. I have omitted no one
intentionally for I know of none but what would be entitled to a
place in the book. 1 have given you a fuller account of David
Thrasher's family, perhaps, than any other owing to the fact that
he was my grandfather and I know more of them. I now give jou some
characteristics of the family. The ladies were very retired in
their manners, modest and kind— liked good company and kept no other,
cautious about whom they or their families associated with, prided
themselves on living well . All became corpulent when they reached
middle age— all made good wives and mothers, and were indeed help-
meets in the true sense of the word. Only two of John Thrasher's
Children died before reaching old acre . The Thrasher men were large
noted for their physical strength and activity. When in a good
humor, quiet and of very mild speech, though when provoked and angry
persons in the vicinity did not need a trumpet to hear them. They
were considered among the most high-minded, honorable and bravest
men in their day. John Thrasher's children all accumulated con-
siderable property-- the largest number became immensely rich. Bar-
ton Thrasher, who lived in Clark County, Now Oconee, was one of the
wealthiest men in his day. As I have written before, John James
Thrasher, Living in Florida, P. 0., Dade City, is the oldest living
descendant of John Thrasher; being a son of David Thrasher of New-
ton County, Ga., and a grandson of John Thrasher (1761-1840).
Cousin John was always a friend to the poor, and never failed to
recognize a relative wherever he might meet him. He was a man of
great- energy, and built several towns. There was a Joe Thrasher
and wife who was a cousin to the older ones, murdered bv the Indians
on the Appalochee. They had a baby girl .that the Indians took, and
the whites failed to recapture the child" till she was 12 years of
age. The child always had Indian ways. I never learned what finally
became of her. He was a cousin and must have been a son of one of
John Thrasher's brothers. In politics the Thrashers were, so far
as I know, Democrats; In religion, principally Baptist and Methodist.
'The family always claimed English descent, being from Wales. With
I good wishes for your seccess with the book, I now close.
Respectfully,
D. W. Scott, II. D.
McDonough, Ga.,
October 20, 1894.
(8)
17 67.
3LIAS THRA.SHER-
1769.
HENRIETTA LAMAR
TEN CHILDREN
MATILDA — Atiril 27, 1792.
MARTHA. LEE— Dec. 15, 1793.
SRVIE— November 11, 1795.
THOMAS — September 19, 179S.
ELIZABETH- -October 7, 1796.
ELIJAH — November 6, 1800.
ELI— October 21, 1802.
URIAH- -October 24, 1804.
ARITTA— May 31, 1806.
WM. FRANKLIN- -July 16, 1308
Elias Thrasher, 1767, the fourth child of Thomas Thrasher, was also
born in Virginia, on May 10, 1767. On October 23, 1790, he married
Henrietta Lamar- -17 69.
furr.ish-
(The following sketch of Eli Thrasher's (1771) children was
ed me by Sallie P. Thrasher of Lewisport, Ky.)
Matilda Thrasher (1792-1834) married Mr Shelden. They had one
child, a girl, named Amanda, who married Abram Brown, and died with-
out issue. Martha (1793) married James Gaffert, and had nine child-
ren. Nancy (who married Mr. Morgan), Eli, John G., James, Henrietta,
who married Mr. Bishop, Turn, Woodson, Caroline, who married Mr. John-
son, and Elizabeth, who died when grown, unmarried. Elizabeth (1796)
married Thomas Black and had five children--Aretta, Harriet, Sophia,
Will and Tom. Aretta (married Mr. Roe) now living near Hawe^ville,
Ky. Harriet married James Campbell, and died recently near Lewis-
port, leaving five children--viz . : Martha Kelly, Lewisport; Lizzie
Driskell, Cannelton, Ind.; Jennie Michel, Cannelton, Ind.; Torn
Campbell, Lewisoort, Ky. : William and Joe. Sophia married Will Pegg
and. had three children— Eliza, Willie and Tom. Mr. Fegg died and
she then married James Johnson- -Will Black- unknown. Eli and Colum-
bus Gaffert live at Grandview, Ind. Woodson Gaffert at Rockport, Ind,
Henrietta Gaffert married Mr. Bishop, then Edmond Roe. Has one daugh-
ter, Jennie Bishop, who married Patrick Bailey. Caroline Gaffert
married David Johnson of Grandview, Ind., but now dead. Nancy
Gaffert married Benjamin Morgan and had seven children, viz.: Hester
(married James Sample), Martha (married Albert Hov/e), Belle (married
J. Weatherholt), James, Charley, and another girl I know nothing of.
Thomas Thrasher (1798) married Lucretia Blandford and had four
children-- Samuel, Thomas, Sofronia and Martha. Samuel Thrasher
married Jane Hull and had three children—Myrtle, Bessie and Henry.
Thomas Thrasher married Susie Sample first and had three children-
James, Helen and Earl. Married second time, Belle Hogan, and by her
had tv/o children— Buelah and an infant. Sofronia Thrasher married
David Blandford and has a large family. Martha Thrasher married
Henry Pate and had two children— Lida and Logan. She then married
Henry Huffman. Eli Thrasher (1802) married Caroline Meeker and had
one child; his wife died and at sixteen the child, Caroline, died.
Areyetta Thrasher (1806) married Samuel Pate and had sixteen child-
ren—James, John, Will, Wesley, Letitia all dead except Leti-
tia. John Pate married Martha Mordock; had two children— Robert and
Areyetta. Robert married Martha Greathouse last and had one child-
Samuel. Lillv Pate married John Taylor ->nd has one child, a rirl .
'..'esley Pate married Letitis : : ?son--died 1894. Letitia married Ed-
ward Gregory and has five children- -Una j Sarn ; Henry, Eli, and Clay-
born. Una Gregory married Ur. Hidden. Sam Gregory married Jessie
Brovffij Henry Gregory married Nellie Pell and has one child.
1806-1362.
ARRITTA THRESHER
1795-1849.
SAMUEL PATE
thirteen children
(Three dying in infancy)
ja:'es i'o^roe pate
JOHN TPIOrl'.S PATE
A.NN '•' . E . P ATE
Yfe. FRANKLIN PATE
3AIUJEL MARION PATE
MARY ANN PATE
ELI LESLEY PATE
MALISSA HENRIETTA PATE
L AT ST I A TAYLOR PATE
HENRY PATE.
(The following "biographical sketch of Arritta Thrasher and her
descendants was furnished me by Mrs. L. T. Gregory, Lewi sport, Ky.)
Samuel Pate was born January 27, 1795. His first wife was
Miss Barrett, of Ohio County, Ky. To this union were given five
children, three of whom died in infancy. Gabril Jackson Pate was
born July 6, 1817. Eliza Jane Pate was born June 26, 1820. In
1324 he was married to Arritta Thrasher, of Ohio County, Ky.,
formerly Hancock County, Ky., daughter of Eli Thrasher and Hen-
rietta Lamar Thrasher. Such is a short record of a useful life,
a life of toil and many good deeds. His counsel was sought, his
opinions listened to with respect, and his judgment generally
approved. Agriculture was his principal pursuit; by industry,
integrity and economy he accumulated quite a nice fortune. His
life^was short, having died January 23, 1349, in his fifty-fourth
year.
Aritta Thrasher, daughter of Eli Thrasher and Henrietta Lamar
Thrasher, was born ?*!ay 31, 1806. She was reared in Hancock County,
Ky. When she was about grown her father moved to Ohio County, Ky.,
where they lived for several years. She was married to Samuel Pate,
of Ohio County, Ky., in 1824. Samuel and Arritta Thrasher Pate
lived in his native county for a few years, where their oldest child
is buried, having died in infancy. They moved back to her former
home in Hancock County, Ky., about 1325, where the remainder of
their lives was spent. She was a helpmate to her husband, and in a
comparatively short time they acquired a comfortable fortune. Hi3
death occurred in 1849, leaving her a widow at the age of forty-
three, with a large family to care for, and to look after and man-
age his estate. She was a consistent member of the K. E. Church
South, and ministers were always made to feel welcome at her house.
No wayfarer ever asked for bread or lodging v/lthout receiving, at
her hands, that which was good for them. Dear patient hands, oft
weary with life's work, were lain to rest January 2, 1862. To this
union were given thirteen children, three of v/hom were taken from
them in infancy. Those named were as follows: James Monroe, John
Thomas, Ann Margaret Elizabeth, William Franklin, Samuel !•••'. ar ion,
"p.ry Ann, Eli Wesley, Kalisaa Henrietta, Latetia Taylor and Henry.
James Konroe Pate, "born January 22, 1826. Died October 10,
1875. Afflicted from early boyhood; his life v;a3 spent at the old
hone s t e ad .
John Thomas Pate was born November 10, 1823. while the Cal-
ifornia gold fever was at its height, he lived two years in that
stste, which proved to "be time well spent; as it improved his fi-
nancial position, and gave him an opportunity to learn more of his
country and her people. Returning home he was united in marriage
with Miss Martha E. Koredock of Hancock County, Ky., January 25,
1854. After a few years of agricultural pursuits in his native
county, he moved to Missouri where he again turned his attention
to farming. Not meeting with the success he desired he moved to
Hannibal, Mo., where he engaged in tobscco speculations and farm-
ing. He afterwards moved to Quincy, 111., where he engaged in manu-
facturing tobacco, realizing very good profits from his business.
From Quincy, 111., he came back to his native county where he lived
until March 17, 1871. In the Spring of 1871, he left Kentucky and
settled In Corsic-?na, Texas, where he met with good success as real
estate agent. Among the good characteristics v/hich he possessed
were firm integrity, tireless industry and a devotion to duty.
John T. and Martha E. Pate were blessed with seven children, two of
whom are living. The father and five of the children have passed
av/ay and but two Infants of his family have found a resting place
at his native home. John T. Pate departed this life at Corsicana,
Texas, September 22, 1872, leaving a widow and three children. Mar-
tha E. Pate, widow of John T. Pate is now living In Louisville, Ky.
William Sameul Pate was born November 11, 1854. Died November 20,
1858, in Monroe County, Mo. John Robert Pate, born August 7, 1857,
was married to Miss Mattie E. Greathouse in 1889. He is now engaged
in farming and stock-raising near Lewisport, Ky. J. R. Pate and M.
E. Pate have two children, John Wesley and Joseph Pate. James Thorns s
Pate was born April 1, 1860. Died in Sherman, Texas, Jan. 14, 1380.
Buried at Corsicana, Texas. Kate Ann Pate was born June 4, 1862.
Departed this life Septemberl6, 1865, in Monroe County, Mo. Arritta
Lee Pate was born August 17, 1864. Was married to Mr. John Haden
Read of Owensboro, Davies County, Ky., April 28, 1886. J. Haden Read
died June 1890, leaving a v/idow and two children—Anna Rheatz and
Fannie Lee Read, Arritta Lee Read- Is at present living in Louisville
Kentucky.
Ann Margaret Elizabeth Pate was born May 14, 1830. Was married
to Dr. J. W. Compton of Cloverport, Breckenridge County, Ky., Jan-
uary, 1851. Departed this life August 15, 1851.
William Franklin Pate was born January 4, 1834. He joined in
marriage to Miss Mary E. Bell of Lewisport, Hancock County, Ky., April
6, 1859. To this union was given three children--Prentice E. Pate,
born July 23, 1860, died April 13, 1862; Lily Bell Pate, born October
4, 1862, was married to Mr. John Taylor of Lewisport, Hancock County,
Ky., March 31, 1886. They have one child, Doris Taylor, and reside
at Hawesville, Hancock County, Ky. Conway F. Pate was born Sept., 16,
1864; died January 21, 1866. Mary E. Pate, wife of William F. Pate,
died March 14, 1867. March 3, 1871, he was united in marriage with
Mrs Patsy 3. Greathouse. Two children blessed this union—Frank C.
Pate, born March 24, 1876, now living in Lewisport, Hancock County,
Ky., and Samuel Pate, born Dec, 15, 1871, died Jan. 10, 1872.
\.J-±)
Patsy S. Pate, second wife of William F. Pate, died Septembers,
1876. William F. Pate died April 8, 1886. He loved liberty--
personal, political and religious. Eis was the religion of hu-
manity. He was not a sectarian, but possessed the sublimest
reverence for the God who he realized was the Maker and Giver of
all good gifts. He was a kind, affectionate husband: a loving
indulgent father. While every member of his family and himself
were slave-owners, he believed it was not right, and often in the
home circle would advocate the abolition of slavery. The equality
and brother-hood of man was in him an inborn sentiment. He was
in Arkansas at the beginning of the Civil War; although he was in
the Confederacy, his whole heart was filled with patriotism, be-
lieving that no vicissitudes of the war could justify the dissolu-
tion of the Union. Possessing wit and a genial nature, he was a
favorite with his associates; and through life would drive dull
care away. Pie died in the prime of life, being only fifty-two
years of age.
Samuel Marion Pate, was born May 4, 1836. His nature was
one to enjoy life, to see the bright and cheerful side of all his
surroundings. In 1859 or 1860 he sought to better his fortune by
going to California, remaining there wntil his death, which occurr-
ed September 25, 1861. He was buried at Gold Kill. Nevada Co., Cal .
Mary Ann Pate, was born in January 15, 1840; departed this
life October 15, 1843.
Eli Wesley Pate, was born November 5, 1842. The greater part
of his life was spent at his old homestead, where he was born and
reared, in Hancock County, Ky. Farming was his principal pursuit.
He was united in marriage to Miss Mary R. Mason, May 3, 1883. After
his marriage to Miss Mason, he moved to Lewisport, Hancock County,
Ky., where he engaged in dealing in leaf tobacco. He continued in
the tobacco business three years and was successful. Then he en-
tered into general merchandise business. This business, in connec-
tion with farming, engaged his attention- until his death, which
occurred March 21, 1894. His bearing was pleasing, possessing a
pleasant and kindly face. Throughout the whole of his life he en-
joyed the confidence and esteem of the people among whom he lived.
He was honored for his honesty, benevolence and benignity. One who
held a contempt for falsehood, abhorred deception and hypocrisy, and
could not look on such acts with any degree of allowance. He was
sought by the poor and oppressed for pecuniary aid and counsel; the
worthy were not turned away without his assistance.
Mallissa Henrietta Pate, was born January 19, 1845; died June
12, 1846.
Latetia Taylor Pate, was born April 23, 1847. Was married to
Mr. Edward Gregory, of Cloverport, Breckenridge County, Ky., October
7, 1868. To thorn have been given seven children. Myrtle Una Gregory
was born September 8, 1869, was married April 18, 1893, to Mr. R. .G.
Higdon, of Calhoun, Ky. They now live in Calhoun, Ky. John Samuel
Gregory, born September 16, 1871, was married to Miss Jessie Brown
of Lewisport, Ky., October 31, 1893. They have one child, Edward
Caldwell Gregory, born Dec, 3, 1894. They live in Lewisport, Ky.
v-2;
Jame3 Henry Gregory, born Inarch 20, 1874, was married to Miss Nellie
Pell, of Lewi sport, Ky., January 27, 1392. They have one child,
Myrtle Una Gregory, born May 17, 1893. They now live at Grissom' s
Landing, Daviess County, Ky. Eli Edward Gregory, born June 2, 1376.
Latetia Arritta Gregory, was born February 11, 1882; died June 15,
1382. Cleburne Earl Gregory, born October 25, 1883. Infant son was
born July 15, 1888; died July 25, 1886. The parents, Edward Gregory
and Latetia Taylor Pate Gregory, reside in Lewlsport, Ky., where
their children were born and reared.
Henry Pate, was born January 20, 1849; departed this life July
5, 1849.
1808—1855
WILLIAM FRANKLIN THRASHER
MICHAL McDANIEL.
FIVE CHILDREN
ELI E. THRASHER- -1847.
STEPHEN P. THRASHER— 1848.
WILLIAM FRANKLIN THRASHER— 1850.
JOHN F. THRASHER— 1853.
MERAB THRA3 PER- -1355.
(The following was collected and furnished by Mrs Merab Thrasher
Miller of Hawesville, Ky., the only daughter of William F. Thrasher.)
William Franklin Thrasher was born July 16, 1808: married '"'ichal
McDaniel, February 26, 1845. Died June 20," 1855. They had five
children, four sons and one daughter. All the children were born in
Hancock County, Ky., P. 0. Lewi sport, Ky. William Franklin was a
landowner, prosperous and highly esteemed.
Eli T. Thrasher, born January 9, 1847, was married to Alic^ Tay-
lor, October 12, 1869. He is an enterprising farmer, and his home
has a local fame for its generous hospitality. They have two child-
ren, James Franklin Thrasher, born September 20, 1870; Lelia Edna
Thrasher, born December 26, 1875.
Stephen T. Thrasher, born Sept., 25, 1843, was married to Carrie
E. Johnson, Jan., 15, 1874. He is in good condition financially, and
stands well in the community in which he lives. They had five chil-
dren. Beryl B. Thrasher, born April 3, 1875, was married to Sidney
Johnson Nov., 30, 1895. Grace D*. Thrasher, born Dec, 3, 1876. Mary
M. Thrasher, born Oct., 16, 1378. Maud Thrasher, born May 9, 1832.
Cecil Thrasher, born Sept., 11, 1885.
William Franklin Thrasher, born October 50, 1850, was married to
Sarah F. Lewis, Sept., 9, 1879. They have had three sons. He has
been a prosperous farmer and merchant, and is commendable popular
among his neighbors. Lev/is Thrasher, born April 9, 1880; died April
50, 1391. Chester Thrasher, born December 11, 1885. Marion Thrasher
born September 14, 1835.
U3)
John F. Thrasher, horn January 30, 1355; was married to Eurith
C. Johnson, April 21, 18S1 . He is a farmer, trader and fruit raiser
and has acquired a competency. They have four children. Fletch S.
Thrasher, born April 19, 1882. Michael ?. Thrasher, born Hay 12,
1334. Stephen T. Thrasher, born August 23, 1885. John Reaugh
Thrasher, born April 9, 1892.
Merab Thrasher, born March 18, 1355, was married to S. 0.
Killer, May 29, 1878. Mr. Miller is a druggist at Hawesville, and
they own a comfortable and pleasant home. They have two children--
3ulah Bernice Miller, born May 15, 1880; Martha Michal Miller, born
August 13, 1888.
14)
PART SECOND.
1735.
WILLIAM THRASHER
ONE CHILD.
WILLIAM THRASHER, JR. (1770-1810).
William Thrasher (1735) came with his brothers Thos. and John,
from Wales in about the year 1750. He had but one son that we have
any record of, and he was named for him- -William.
William Thrasher, Jr. (1770-1S10) was born in Boston, Mass.,
and there was highly educated. He married in 1806 an accomplished
and wealthy Cuban lady, and took up his residence at Portland, Me.,
and died in 1810, leaving one heir--a son named John S. Thrasher.
John S. Thrasher (1307-1879), soon after the death of his
father, journeyed to Cuba with his mother, and there took up his
residence at Havana. Here he received a collegiate education. He
entered journalism. Imbibing Republican ideas from his native land,
he soon became known to the Royal Government at Madrid. In 1850 a
revolution was inaugurated to overthrow the home government and es-
tablish a Republic of Cuba. After a time the Spanish Government
suppressed it, captured and shot many of the leaders, and took others
to Madrid and threw into prison. Among the latter who were incar-
cerated in a Spanish dungeon was John S. Thrasher. Being an American
citizen, never having renounced his allegiance to his native land,
he appealed to the United States for liberty. At last Daniel Webster
In a masterly speech in the United States Senate In 1851, called the
attention of our government to the imprisonment of John S. Thrasher,
and he was liberated. John S. Thrasher wrote the "History of Cuba,"
supplementing Humboldt's history of that island. He was Consul to
Havana; assistant editor of the Hew York Herald, and for many years
its traveling correspondent, and visited many foreign countries. In
the year 1874, the writer passed a day with him at the Southern Hotel,
St. Louis. He was then nearly sixty years of age, yet his mental and
physical powers seemed in their prime. He was of large and command-
ing physique --hair and beard white as the snowflake and eyes keen and
undimmed. His conversation bore the impress of culture and travel;
his manners were sympathetic and his bearing courtly. He was happy
to find a relative and discoursed pleasantly of his eventful life and
of his travels in many lands. He was then editor of the Daily Gal-
veston News, and was enroute to his Southern home. He related to the
writer, as Adjutant-General of General Johnstone's staff, Confederate
Army, he was traveling, during the Rebellion, in Mississippi. He
arrived In Port Gibson in the night, and called on his relative, John
B. Thrasher, the distinguished lawyer. John B. Thrasher, thinking
only an enemy would favor him with a nocturnal call during war times,
reluctantly unbolted the door. John S. Thrasher was much surprised
on finding himself looking down the glistening barrels of two revolvers
U5)
Explanations, congratulations and apologies followed on learning
that it was only a relative making a friendly visit. In Applet on' 3
Cyclopedia, edition of 1879, is found the following biographical
sketch of John 3. Thrasher, which is appended.
"John S. Thrasher was born in Portland, Maine, in 1807 (Apple-
ton gives it 1817, but it is an error.). Died in Galveston, Texas,
November 10, 1879. V/hile yet a youth, his parents removed to Hava-
na, Cuba. He became a partner of the wealthy firm of Tyng & Co . ,
but his tastes led him to journalism. In 1849 he purchased the
Faro Industrial, a daily Havana newspaper, the only organ of the
Liberal party. He continued its editor until Sept. 1, 1851, when
General Concha suppressed it. On that day Lopez, the famous fili-
buster, was executed. Thrasher's sympathies and good offices were
freely given to his four hundred unfortunate followers. He was court
martialed and condemned to ten years imprisonment at hard labor in
Ceuta, and perpetual banishment from Cuba. He was released after
seven months through the intervention of the United States Minister
at Madrid. Mr. Earringer, of N. Carolina, whose wife appealed suc-
cessfully to Queen Isabella, also Daniel Webster. He afterwards es-
tablished in New Orleans a Sunday paper called the Beacon of Cuba.
From 1853 to 1855, he was an active member of the filibustering
associations which organized the expedition under General Quitman.
When the United States Government prevented its departure, the Cuban
Junta dissolved and Thrasher went to New York. He found a position
on the staff of the Herald, and as a special correspondent traveled
through Mexico and South America. In 1856 he published an essay on
Humboldt's Personal Narrative, which he had previously translated
into English. He also published various treatises on the social,
financial and political condition of Cuba, one of which, Cuba and
Louisiana, addressed to Samuel J. Peters, was received with marked
attention. While still connected with the Herald, he edited Noti-
cioso de Nuevo New York, a paper devoted t° the interests of the
Spanish- American countries. He married a Southern woman whose pro-
perty was in Texas. During the Civil War he remained at the South,
and was the agent of the Associated Press at Atlanta. After the war
he resumed his editorship and had charge of Frank Leslie's Illustra-
cion Americana, in New York. Latterly he resided at Galveston, Texas
(16)
PART THIRD.
1730-1806.
JOHN THRASHER***~x-'-^--^--^-»******** ELIZABETH HOOKER THRASHER.
FIVE CHILDREN
STEPHEN THRASHER— 17 61-1833,
Remained in Kentucky.
JOSIAH THRASHER- -17 63- 1849.
Went to Indiana.
ELIJAH THRASHER.
Went to Georgia.
Eli as THRASHER- -17 65.
Went to Missouri.
JOHN F. THRASHER.
STEPHEN THRASHER — 1761-1833.
NINE CHILDREN.
JOSIAH THRASHER,
JOS. THRASHER,
STEPHEN THRASHER,
JOHN B. THRASHER,
ELIZABETH THRASHER.
SARAH THRASHER,
WILLIAM THRASHER,
AARON THRASHER,
MARY THRASHER,
JOSIAH THRASHER— 1763-1849.
SIX CHILDREN.
JOHN THRASHER— 1790-1879.
WILLIAM THRASHER- - 17 92- 18—
AARON THRASHER— 1794.
SALLY THRASHER- -1795.
JAMES THRASHER- - 1800 .
STEPHEN THRASHER- -1804.
STEPHEN THRASHER,
HENRY THRASHER,
JOHN F. THRASHER.
FIVE CHILDREN.
WOODSON THRASHER
HARRISON THRASHER,
THOMAS THRASHER 1806-1848,
JOHN F. THRASHER,
ELISHA THRASHER,
ELI AS THRASHER- -17 65.
FIVE SONS,
STEPHEN THRASHER.
WILLIS THRASHER,
ELI THRASHER— 1810,
<, -'< i
JOHN THRASHER, born In Wales in 1730, came to Redstone, Md.,
with his two brothers, Thomas and William, in 1750. He was a man
of wealth. At the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, he entered
the army as an officer, and won distinction by his bravery. At the
close of the war he moved to Falmouth, Ky. Mr. Stephen Thrasher,
of Port Gibson, Miss., writes me, it was about the year 1793 (it
was prior to 1790--Ed.) that John moved with his family to Kentucky.
They brought considerable money with them, for his five sons bought
conjointly a tract of 1100 acres of land along Grassy Creek, the
West, East, and middle Fork, about a mile and a half from where the
united streams empty into Licking River. They were influential far-
mers, yet, on account of Indian depredations, cultivated their farms
■with much difficulty. A Block House was provided, to which they
would flee when attacked. Josiah, the lame brother, watched with
gun on horseback, while the others worked in the fields. The owned
slaves, mills, distilleries, stores and public houses (hotels) .
STEPHEN THRASHER (1761-1833), the eider brother, was born in
Maryland, married Mary Boyd, by whom he had nine children, as seen
in diagram. He entered the War of 1812 as Major of a Kentucky regi-
ment, and returned at the close of the war as its Colonel. He was
v/ith Mad Anthony Wayne, in the historic battle known as "Anthony's
Defeat." Soon after his return, the five brothers dissolved part-
nership, sold out and separated. Stephen remained in Kentucky,
Elijah" settled in Georgia, Elias in Missouri, Josiah in Indiana,
and John P., unknown. Josiah Thrasher, the eldest child, born in
1794, died young.
0-3)
1796-1343. 1805.
JOSEPH THRASHER KALINDA RUSH.
TEN CHILDREN
MEREDITH — 1819 . NAPOLEON — 1820 .
MARY- -1321. WILLI AM K . — 1832 .
ELIZABETH- -18 23 . JOHN— 1834 .
ALPRED--1325. J0SEPK--1837 .
LEONIDAS — 1827. MALINDA M. — 1840.
(This family history was sent ne by a grandson — Mr . W. V', r . Thrasher,
of Noah, Indiana.)
JOSEPH THRASHER (1795-1843), was born in Kentucky December 12,
1796. On the day preceedlr.g his twenty-first birthday, he married
Malinda Hush, who was In her seventeenth year. Malinda Rush was
the third child of Peter 'Rush (1766-1324), and Mary Mullins Rush
(1777-1359). Peter Rush was the son of Thomas Rush (1700-1770 >, of
Virginia, who was a cousin of the celebrated Benjamin Rush (1745-
■1313), of Philadelphia, a signer of the Declaration of Independence,
and one of the most distinguished physicians and scholars of his
time. Mary Mullins Rush-- the writer's great -grandmother, traced
her ancestry back to William Mullins (157 5-1621), who came over in
the "Mayflower." Joseph Thrasher, in Kentucky, worked at the trade
of black smithing, but in 1823, moved to Rushville, Indiana, and in
1831 to Shelbyvllle, Ind., and engaged in merchandising. Jacob
Powers, of Indianapolis, a relative, relates of Joseph Thrasher,
that "He made his money blacksmi thing at Falmouth, Ky.--then went
into the dry goods business at Shelbyvllle, Ind., in 1835. He was
proud and rather aristocratic In his ideas, and desired to forget
his former calling and associations. One day a Kentucky acquaint-
ance by the name of Becket, rode over from Kentucky on horseback to
make him a visit. He rather familiarly called Joseph out of the
store, he being still in the street on horseback, and said, "I am
Becket- -don' t you know me? Your name is Thrasher, Is it not?"
Joseph straightened himself up, and replied: "Yes, sir, my name
is Thrasher, but by G-d, I don't know Becket." He grew tired of
merchandising and engaged in steamboating on the Ohio and Mississ-
ippi Rivers. He died in 1343, and was buried at Lawrenceburg.
MEREDITH THRASHER- -1819, ELIZABETH V/ALKER
THRR1E CHILDREN
JOHN, ELIZABETH, AND MARY.
(Mrs Slvara D. Erwin, of Ealmouth, Ind., sends me the following
account of Joseph and Malinda Thrasher's children.)
MEREDITH THRASHER located in '.'.-abash County, after which he
married. He died in 1364.
Vl9)
MARY THRASHER, born July 6, 1821, married William Brown, a
merchant, at Shelbyville. She die^ in childbirth in 1842.
ELIZABETH THRASHER, -as bom February 21, 1823, married Mr.
Luke Davis, February 1, 1844. Had five children, tyro only surviv-
ing. Allen P., borri 1853, married, wife died, and he is now a
commercial traveler. Eva, born 1855, married to Mr. jsrwin. Has
had three children, one only living--Emna Maud Erwin. Elizabeth
Davis died of consumption in 1853.
H.LPR51D, born and died in 1825.
LHOtHEDAS L. THRASHER, born August 18, 1827. Served through
the Mexican war, and «as Captain of the Third Indiana Battery,
Light Artillery, °nd fought through the Civil War. His first wife
was Hiss Frances Perry, by whom he had four children- -Melissa,
Hilton, Alice and Melburn. His second wife was Hiss Rhoanna Ehoads.
fifter his family had left him by death and marriage, he took up his
residence at the Dayton Soldiers 1 Home, and subsequently at the
Indiana Soldiers' Home, at larion. Melissa, his oldest child;
married ?5r. Geo. Camobell, a farmer, who resides near Shelbyville,
and they have two children-- 1 /alter and Ollie. Milton, is married,
and a member of the firm of S. B. Morris & Co., of Shelbyville, Pad.
Alice, married Mr. Frank Weir, and lives near Acton, Indiana. Mel-
burn is in Texas.
NAPOLEON B. THRASHER (1830-1377), was a soldier and musician
in the Civil War, and subsequently connected with the woolen factory
at Shelbyville. Died of sunstroke.
WILLIAM X. THRASHER, born February 21, 1832. He is a carpenter,
married Miss Haoma J. Kennedy, by whom he has had three children--
Joel, Tressa and Naoma J. By his second wife, Miss Emily C. Moore,
he had nine children, viz; Versyla 0., Vv'm. W., Fannie B., Samuel L.,
John B., Charles E., Jesse A., Albert D.,-'and Stella M. Versyla 0.,
born 1863, married Mr. T. H. Tadlock of Noah, Ind. Have children--
Ernest, Fannie, Willie and Mary. William W., a farmer, born 1364,
married Miss' Hala A. Section of Indianapolis. Fannie B. born 1866,
married Mr. S. H. T. Steirs, a blacksmith of Little Blue, Ind.
Samuel L., born 1869, married Miss Ida Nichols. John B., born 1871.
Charles H., 1874. Jesse A., 1877. Albert D., 1879. Stella M., 1382.
JOHN THRASHER, born August 10, 1834, married Miss Sarah A. La
Fevers, by whom he had two children, Maggie and Matilda. He was a
soldier in the war of the Rebellion, and was fatally wounded while
fighting bravely at Nashville, February 1, 1863.
JOSEPH THRASMER was born in 1837. He married Miss Melvyna La
Fevers, by whom he had two children- -Melvyna and Melvin. He died, of
measles at Louisville, in 1863, in the Civil War.
MALINDA M. THRASHER, born in 1840, married John Perry, and bore
to him two children—Forrest and Fannie. She died of consumption in
1865.
STEPHEN THRASHER (1798), was born in Pendleton County, Ky. His
life was mainly spent on the Mississippi River — for a long time as
PIlot--and latterly as Captain, on steamers plying between New Orleans
and the Upper Mississippi. In old age, he left the river, and settled
in Galena, 111., where he lived in retirement till his death.
JOHN B. THRASHER (1800-1378), was born at Falmouth, Kentucky,
where he received a collegiate education, and went to Port Gibson,
Mis 3. Appended is his life as furnished me "by his nephew the Hon.
Stephen Thrasher of Mississippi. "John B. Thrasher was born Oct. 9,
1900, in Pendleton County, Ky., and csme South in the spring of the
year 1824. He first landed ?t Natchez, Kiss., but after looking
around a while he came back up the P.iver to Bruinsburg, at the mouth
of the Bazou Pierres, Miss., about thirty-five miles above Natchez.
From there he walked out ten miles to what was called the Briscoe
Settlement, which is about eight miles south of Port Gibson, in Clai-
borne County, Hiss. He stopped with General Parmenias Briscoe, and
got a situation as school teacher in the neighborhood, where he
taught school for two years. He obtained a few law books and studied
them at odd times during his teaching. General Briscoe (who was
wealthy), with whom he boarded, took quite a fancy to him, and per-
suaded his to settle in Port Gibson and practice law, promising to
assist him in money matters, should his money give out before he had
sufficient practice to maintain himself. He settled in Port Gibson
in the spring of the year 1826, but he never had to call on his
friend for assistance, as he made money the first year. He soon be-
came prominent as a lawyer, and in less than ten years stood at the
head of the bar in South Mississippi . This part of Mississippi had
formerly belonged successively to Spain, France, Great Britain, and
the State of Georgia, and the southwestern counties were shingled
all over with Spanish, French, English, and Georgia grants — a large
majority of them trespassing, and in many instances on top of one
another. In a short time after he came to bar there v/as an immense
land litigation growing out of these grants. His specialty was in
civil practice, and he became one of the most distinguished civil
lawyers in the State. The landowners were, as a general thing,
wealthy slaveowners, and paid large fees.. He was not at the bar
more than ten years before he received a' fee of ^25,000 in one case.
His briefs in the High Court of Errors are said to be the ablest ever .
filed in the same. In the year 1845 he opened and settled a large
cotton plantation on the Mississippi River, just above the mouth of
Big Black River, and about twelve miles above the Grand Gulf, and
had several hundred slaves on it at the commencement of the late
Civil War. The plantation was carried on by employees, he still
remaining in Port Gibson practicing lav/. He never made anything
planting, for he expended all the profits in making Improvements.
I knew him on one occasion to tear a new levee down, which had cost
him -710,000, and then build it in another direction. The levee had
been built by about a hundred Irishmen employed at a dollar and a
quarter per day. He hnd to build private levees all around his plan-
tation, and for this purpose he employed Irishmen altogether, keep-
ing his slaves at work in the fields. He always had his slaves
treated well, and had the reputation of being one of the most humane
masters in the country. Believing that the institutions of the
South were endangered by the election of Mr. Lincoln in 1860, who
did not get a vote in the cotton and sugar States, either electoral
or otherwise, and not a single vote in any of the slaveholding States,
he became a Secessionist, and favored the separation of the
Southern States, and gave several thousand dollars for the
equipment of Southern troops. At the end of the war, on my
return from the war, we commenced the practice of law in co-
partnership, under the firm name of J. B. & S. Thrasher. He
died on the thirteenth of September, 1878, of epidemic yellow
fever, and now sleet) s in the cemetery at Port Gibson."
SARAH THRASHER (no record) .
1803-1892.
WILLIAM THRASHER.
SIGHT CHILDREN
STEPEEN--1835 WILLlAM--died in infancy.
SARAH— 1835-1867 JOHN.
MARY . DAVID .
HENRI ETTA . MARGARET .
(William Thrasher, 1803-1892. The following sketch was furnished
by his son, the Honorable Stephen Thrasher, of Mississippi.)
"WILLIAM THRASHER moved to Indiana in the spring of the year
1835 and settled at Hartsville In Bartholomew County. From there
he moved to Shelbyville In the same State, where his brother Joseph
resided. He was engaged in the milling business for a long time
and finally died the last of April, 1892. He lived until he ?:as
a few days over eighty-nine years of age.. He performed nothing
of note in his life, but was known for his hospitality and had
numerous friends. Els funeral was lsrge. He was noted for his
Union sentiments during the war, and p-ave me a scoring for the part
I took on the Confederate side, but he would not allow anybody else
to do it, as he gave me credit for sincerity. He married Miss Hen-
rietta Hook, who was born in Maryland, but raised near Falmouth,
Ky. She died in Shelbyville in 1869. He had eight children- -four
sons and four daughters. Stephen (your humble servant) was born
in Kentucky; Sarah H., who was born at Hartsville, Ind.; the rest
were Mary, Henrietta, William, John, David and Margaret. William
died in infancy. Sarah H. married W. F. Little and died in 1367;
her husband died in 1874. Mary married Oscar Turner, they now live
in SuClair, Wis. Henrietta married W. E. Golding; the husband
served on the Union side during the entire war, they now live in
Shelbyville. My brother John now lives in Shelbyville and is in
the grocery and produce business: he also served in the Union army.
David now lives in Kentucky. Margaret married a man by the name of
Johnson and now lives in New York."
STEPHEN THRASHER (1833), the distinguished lawyer of Mississ-
ippi, has written me an interesting outline of his own life, and
I cannot do better than give it in his own words: "I was born at
Grassy Creek in Pendleton, Ky., twenty-fourth of February, 183".
My parents moved to Indiana when I was two years old. I came South
in 1852 and at the time had a tolerably fair education. My uncle,
J. B. Thrasher, insisted on my taking a collegiate course, he pay-
ing all expenses. I started North with the intention of going to
Princeton, K. J., but stopped in Indiana and graduated from the
State University of that State at Bloomington in 1857. I then re-
turned South and studied lav; in the office of my uncle, John B.
During my college course at Bloomington I became engaged to be
married to a young lady by the name of Margaret A. Borland. I re-
turned in IB 59 and v/e were married in that year. I wanted to come
South to live but she would not consent and we settled at Shelby-
ville, where I commenced the practice of law. She died in August
1860, having given birth to twin children a few days preceeding
her death. I was then alone and my children died a few days after.
Settling up my affairs, in September of that year I returned South
to make my home at Port Gibson. I immediately commenced to prac-
tice and at the March term, 1861, of the Circuit Court had a pretty
good docket, but the was breaking out shortly afterwards arrested
everything. In July, I volunteered in the Claiburne Guards and
served in the Twelfth Mississippi Regiment in Virginia, during the
war. I fought in the ranks as a private: had no desire to assume
the responsibilities of an officer. I was in all the principal
battles fought in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania: was wounded
five times, but lived to resume the practice in connection with my
uncle, J. B. Thrasher, in Port Gibson after hostilities had ceased.
In the year 1875, I married Mrs. Lizzie Hamilton, widow of C. I.
Hamilton. We have had no children, but she had some by her former
husband and I think as much of them as if they were my own. I
made a tolerable good fortune at the bar- -quit the practice, went
into other business and lost everything. Returned to the bar and
made another comfortable sum of money. I quit the bar in 1888 and
now live on my wife's plantation, about seven miles west of Port
Gibson on the Mississippi River. I own a plantation of my own ad-
joining my wife's. I never had any taste for politics, but my
friends ran me for the State Senate in 1885, and elected me with-
out any difficulty. They conferred the honor on me again in 1889.
I also served in the House, representing this and the adjoining
county of Jefferson. My legislative life had existed for ten years.
During the last session of the Legislature, I received nine votes
in the caucus to fill the vacancy in the United States Senate caused
by the resignation of General Y.'althall. These votes were altogether
unsolicited and unexpected. I immediately arose, thanked my friends
for the honor of their votes and positively declined to become a
candidate. Had I done so, the probabilities are that I would have
had as good a chance as the man who succeeded. This fact I learned
after the selections had been made. I stood pretty fair at the bar
and am known all over the State. I have a plantation of my own--
own a fifth interest in a "Cotton seed oil mill," representing a
capital of two hundred thousand dollars. Stock in a bank and stock
in other enterprises, besides other property, and etc. I am now a
little past sixty-one years of age.
Stenhen Thrasher.
Oak Lawn, Miss., March 31, 1894.
1808-1882.
AARON THRASHER SUSAN ANDERSON.
THREE CHILDREN
0. P, THRASHER. J. B. THRASHER.
N. W. THRASHER.
(This sketch was furnished me by Kr. J. B. Thrasher, of
Demossville, Kentucky.)'
che age of seventy-four, and his wife survived him two years. He
was a man of sterling- integrity, and held in high esteem in the
community in which he lived. 6. P. Thrasher, 1832, J. 5. Thrasher,
1836, N*. \Y. Thrasher, 1842.
1763-1849. 1769-1839.
JOSIAH THRASHER-r NANCY BONAR THRASHER.
SIX CHILDREN.
J0HN--1790-1879. SALLY--1795.
WILLIAM--1792. JAMES— 1800 .
AARON- -17 94. STEPHEN- -1804.
JOSIAH THRASHER (1763-1849), son of John and Elizabeth Hooker
Thrasher, was born at Redstone, I'd., January 23, 1763, end died in
Fairview, Ind., August 8, 1849, in his eighty- seventh year. His
wife, Nancy Bonar Thrasher, daughter of John and Criste Bonar, was
born at Redstone, Md., Rarch 30, 1769, and died at Fairview, Ind.,
February 1, 1839, aged seventy years. In 1789 they '-ere married,
?nd shortly after moved to Kentucky, -"here their six children were
born. He, with bis brother.?, bought a large tract of land on Grassy
Creek, and there located. His sons, John, Hilliam and Stephen moved
to nush County, Ind., in 1824. and a few years after (1830) be and
his wife joined them. They lived '»ith their son Stephen, south of
Fairview, "til]. 1839, when the wife died, and then Joaiah went to live
with his son John, west of Fairview. Here he died, anri was buried
beside his wife in the Fairview cemetery. He was of medium height,
slightly bald, walked with crutches in consequence of chronic rheu-
matism, aoauired in early life. He had a fiery temper, and when un-
der the influence of liquor "feared neither man nor the devil." "'lien
once keeping a miblic house in Kentucky, he shot a bully who refused
to n"" ri ' for bis drink. u is wife was tall, slender, quiet, modest,
ladylike "x^son, just the opposite in temr>err--ient from her ro'lick-
Inr" roi°."f-erin<T, or»d "'hen under the influence of liquor, don' r r .- vr * ng
(24)
husband. The writer, when a hoy often visited him. He was a jolly
host, entertaining his guest with ripe apples, an egg cooked under
the ashes in his old fire-place, a mug of cider, or droll anecdotes.
V. : e remember well the day he died. It was August 8, 1849. The writer
a seven-year-old lad, with a brother and two cousins, were playing
war in the orchard, with apples. They had chosen sides, apples flew
thick and fast, and, peering from behind trees, we would often get
hit on the head, at which our adversary would emit a yell of triumph.
One of the lady relatives, Aunt Lucinda, came out in the orchard,
and quieted our boisterous enthusiasm by saying "Granc-daddy Die'- is
dying," Mrs. Caroline Rush Bimmett, aged 81, still living, writes
me: "Josiah Thrasher, in politics was a Democrat. When drinking,
which he occasionally indulged in, he was abusive and overbearing,
but at other times he was oolite, kind, and pleasant to all."
JOHN THRASHER (1790-1879), the eldest of the twelve children
born to Josiah and Nancy Thrasher, was the writer's grandfather, and
was known by him intimately and well. John Thrasher, was born in
Falmouth, Ky., February 11^ 1790, in the second year of Washington's
administration. He received a liberal education in private schools.
In the neighborhood lived the Rush's, an intelligent, well-to-do
family. Peter Rush (1766-1824), was a Virginian, the son of Thomas
Rush (1700-1770), and cousin of the celebrated Benjamin Rush (1745-
1813), of Philadelphia, one of the signers of the Declaration of In-
dependence, and one of the most distinguished physicians and scholars
of'his time. John Thrasher married Elizabeth, the oldest daughter
of Peter Rush (1766-1824), and Mary Mullins Rush (1777-1859). Mary
Mullins Rush, the writer's great grandmother, traced her ancestry
back to William Mullins (1575-1621), one of the "Mayflower" pilgrims
and a man of wealth end influence. Elizabeth (1795-1855) was a
round-faced handsome girl, with large beautiful eyes, and but six-
teen years of age when led to the altar by her boyish sweetheart.
They were married February 28, 1811. Ten children were born to them,
as follows:
1790-1878 1795-1855
JOHN THRASHER ELIZABETH THRASHER.
TEN CHILDREN.
WOODSON WALKER, Feb. 9, 1812. JOSIAH, March 15, 1825.
MARY (known as Polly) Nov. 19, 1313. SARAH WALLER, Jan. 1, 1826.
NANCY, Aoril 11, 1816. LUCINDA, May 17, 1828.
WILLIAM P., August 25, 1818. CAROLINE, March 22, 1832.
MARIA LOUISA, January 25, 1821. JOSEPH, June 22, 1834.
Elizabeth was a woman of great decision of character, and
governed her family with the austerity of a Roman matron. She
possessed a high sense of fidelity and honor, and these principles
she inculcated In her children. She was free spoken on questions of
right and wrong, a devoted mother and Christian. She died in 1855,
of what the village physician diagnosed as cancer of the 3tomach, in
her sixtieth -rear, beloved by all. She was interred in the Fairview
graveyard. In 1824 John Thrasher settled In Indiana. He and his
family were the earliest of the Abolitionists of the country. On
their' coming they freed their slaves. One house slave James Van Home,
emigrated with them. Van Home settled on government land near
Connersville, where he lived sixty years and more a respected and
honored citizen. Ke raised quite a large family, many of them
still live in that vicinity. John Thrasher was quiet and gentle,
and possessed none of the turbulent and excitable traits of his
father. Indeed, so mild and conservative was he that his wife and
elder children chiefly took charge of affairs. In earlv life he
was thrown from a horse, producing a hernia, which obliged him to
wear a truss, and this possible prevented him from actively engag-
ing in farm management. He was large hearted and hospitable, as
Kentuckians are wont to be, and no one was turned away from his
door hungry. He was reliable, honest and honorable, but preferred
the retirement and quiet of his own home and surroundings, rather
than be a participant in revolutionizing public affairs. He was
not deficient, however, in public spirit, but preferred others to
lesd. After his wife's death he lived for a time with his eldest
son--the writer's f ather-- , .70odson W. Thrasher. Growing tired of
this kind of life, he married a widow, Mary Copeland, with whom he
lived several years, "when the helplessness of old age came, they
peacefully separated, she to reside with a child by a former marr-
iage, and he to live with his youngest son, Joseph Thrasher, in Gam-
bridge City, Ind. He lived till death overtook him, in the year
1379, in the ninetieth year of his age. An odd idea seized him sev-
eral years before he died. He bought his coffin, then the clothes
he was to be buried in, and had them at hand to be used when needed.
The clothing was a light summer suit, which led his waggish grp.nd-
son, John, to say, "that grandfather evidently anticipates journey-
ing to a warm climate."
(25)
1812-1886 1811-1890
WOODSON W. THRASHES BARBARA THRASHER.
EIGHT CHILDREN
WILLI AM- -1833 . HARRIET- -18 44. •
ELIZABETH- -18 3 6 . SARAH— 1847 .
J0HN--1838. ALLEN— 1851.
MARION — 1842. 0LIVS--1855.
WOODSON WALKER" THRASHER (1812-1335), the writer's father, was
a man of sturdy integrity, of probity, irreproachable in character,
and most jealous of his honor. His word was infallible. He had
the discipline and severity of a Puritan in his family government.
He married in 1852 Barbara Daubenspeck, a well-to-do young Kentucky
girl, he being in his twenty-first year and she nearly a year older.
She had sufficient money to buy their home place at Fairview, Ind.,
in which they lived for thirty years and reared to manhood and wo-
manhood a family of eisrht children. (Barbara Daubenspeck 1 s mother
was a Smelser, one of the most prominent families of Kentucky.)
C-od never gave a tenderer hearted mother to children than she. She
was one of the purest minded of women. She was utterly unselfish,
charitable in the extreme, ever mindful of others' wants rather than
her own. She sorang from a family noted for its longevity, an aunt
living one hundred and four years, an uncle a century, while she has
now (1895) a brother living, Jacob Daubenspeck (1796) nearly one
hundred, and a sister, Lizzie Rush, (1804) who is in her ninetieth
year. She died in 1890, honored and loved by the community in which
she had lived sixty years and more. r - : e cannot give a better idea of
Y.'oodson '.V. Thrasher's life and work than by quoting his biography,
published in the "History of Payette County, Ind."
"Honorable Woodson W. Thrasher, farmer, Fairview Township, was
born in Pendleton County, Ky., February 4, 1812. His parents, John
and Elizabeth (Rush) Thrasher, were natives of Kentucky, and of Eng-
lish and Irish extraction. John Thrasher was a son of Josiah Thrash-
er, a native of Maryland, and his father, John Thrasher, Sr . , was
one of three brothers who emigrated from England to the United States
during the Revolutionary War . They settled in Maryland in 17 50. He
first settled in Maryland, and was there married to Elizabeth Hooker,
and subsequently moved to Kentucky, where he remained until his death.
He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War; was the father of a large
family, of v/hom Josiah (the grandfather of our subject) was the eldest
(Stephen was the eldest .--Ed. ) Josiah was married in Pendleton Co.,
Kentucky., to Nancy Bonsr, and about the year 1830, moved to Rush Co.,
Ind., where she died shortly afterward. He survived her several years,
Their children were John, Josiah, Sarah, and Stephen. (John, William,
Aaron, Sarah, James, and Stephen. — Ed.) John Thrasher and Elizabeth
daughter of Peter and Mary Rush, were united in wedlock in Pendleton,
Ky., and in 1824 moved to Rush Co., Ind., where she died in 1855,
(27)
He subsequently married Mary Copeland, and died In 1879. Ke was
the father of ten children: Woodson V/., Mary, Nancy, William, Josiah,
Maria, Lucinda, Caroline, Joseph, and an infant son who died un-
named. Our subject, with his parents, moved to Rush County, Ind.,
in 1824, and resided with them until his marriage, in 1831, with
Barbara, daughter of Philip and Barbara Dauben speck, born in Bourbo--
County, Ky., February 14, 1811. After his marriage, Mr. Thrasher
settled just over the line from his father, in Fayette County, where
he has since resided, giving his attention to agricultural pursuits,
having been extensively engaged in breeding and raising improved
stock; and to him are the people of this section of Indiana largely
indebted for the fine stock with which the farms abound. Ee has as
prominently, too, been connected with all enterprises and interests
cf the county which have had a tendency to develop the resources and
to educate and Christianize her people. The subjects of education
and Christianity have ever been close to his heart, and to their ad-
vancement he has given much of his mighty energy and liberally of his
means, being largely instrumental in establishing the academy at Fair-
view and the Christian Church near by, with which both himself and
wife have been connected for forty years or more, he having been an
raider therein during a greater part of the time. As an evidence of
his interest in the subject of education, we have but to state that
all his eight children are collegiate graduates, and among them are
a prominent physician in Cincinnati, a professor of mathematics in
Butler's College at Indianapolis, and another a graduate of the pro-
fession of law. The father of Mr. Thrasher before him was a Y.hig,
with which party our subject was in his younger life identified, cast-
ing his- first vote for Henry Clay. Since the organization of the.
Republican party he has been a warm advocate of its principles. He
at one time was one of the County Commissioners, and in 1867 was
chosen by the citizens of the county a Representative in the State
Legislature, where he at once became conspicuous, and was identified
with the leading measures thot came before the Legislature during his
term of service in the years 1867 and 1868. He was Chairman of the
Committee on Roads ?nd Highways; he «lso served on a committee
appointed to visit and report the condition of the Southern prison
at Jef f ersonville; the Chairman's report he refused to sign, and,
with another colleague, drew up a minority report, which was accepted
by the Legislature. He wo.<i largely instrumental In securing the
■passage of the Indiana drain or ditching law., enacted during his ser-
vice, which bill be was greatly interested in. His name is also
connected orominently with other important mea.sures, which, for want
of space, we must leave unmentioned. Mr. Thrasher has been evidently
successful in life, and had been blessed with most excellent health.
Seldom, if ever, ha3 he been confined to bed during his long life, on
account of sickness; and it is greatly to his credit to remark that
he has never been engaged in a lawsuit. He started In life with bur-
small means, but by the thrift and industry he has accumulated a
handsome competency. His children all grew to manhood and womanhood.
Their names are william M., Elizabeth, John ?., Marion, Harriet;
->rah, Allen p.., and Olive."
(25)
1333.
WILLIAM MERRIT THRASHER D^KIA TEAYSR.
FOUR GHILDREM.
GORIWNB. 3ALLI3.
VvaDE. RAYMOND.
(\7m. •■.'. Thrasher, A. M., an eminent professor of mathematics in
nutler University, Indianapolis; for thirty years past, sends me
--n auto-biographical sketch, that I cannot resist publishing en-
tire. )
AUTO-BIOGRAPHY OF V/. M. THRASHER.
"I was born July 26, 1833, at Fairview, Fayette County, Ind .
?*y earliest recollections pertain to the clearing up of a net? farm.
Log rollings, burning the heaps, gathering brush, building fence,
feeding from 100 to 300 hoers, ploying corn, cutting wheat with
sickle and cradle—these are my ancient history. Yve recovered fire
with knife and flint, or went to the neighbors for a brand! I visit-
ed, at age of five, a log schoolhou.se half a mile west of Pair view,
of which only the memory remains of getting into a yellow- jacket ' s
nest, and olaying horse. My early teachers are chiefly remembered
for their frequent application of the ferule and cat-o'nine-talls.
Amusements of boyhood were bull pen, marbles, wrestling, jumping,
invading melon patches snd apple orchards, attending protracted
meetings —chiefly outside the building, accompanying father on two
or three annual squirrel hunts. My two first teachers, with whom I
orofited, were Robert C-ordon and Merchant Kelly. Kelly bristled with
a thousand corners-- each giving out instruction. He made everything
on earth, air and sky, as well as his innumerable inventions, the
subject of instructive talks. At the age of fifteen, A. R. Benton,
from Cato, N. Y., an 1848 graduate of Bethany, Brooks County, W. Va . ,
and for one year a teacher in woodward High School, Cincinnati, came
to Fairview seeking employment as teacher. He had come on a visit
to his old classmate, S. S. Frazee, who informed him that Fairview
was a noted centre of Disciples of Christ. He opened a select school
in one room on Doctor Clifford's premises with about twenty students.
I, here, began the study of Latin and Greek. W. W. Thrasher, Green-
bury Rush, John Shawhan employed Josiah Smith to build a brick aca-
demy building, into which, on its completion, was transferred Pro-
fessor Bento n's school. Fis students soon embraced 50 to 100 from
a half dozen States, and among them many men of promise and several
of fulfillment. Debating clubs were organized. Robert Kidd, a pro-
mising elocutionist from California, convulsed select audiences with
laughter at his inimitable comic impersonations, and other events of
social and intellectual import followed. In September, 1853, my fa-
ther, William Frazee, James Van Horn (colored) and myself, visited
Rethany College: via Sandusky, Niagara, New York, Philadelphia, Bal-
timore, Washington City. I spent one year here and took the first
honors of mv class In four out of the five departments of the college.
(29)
To witness the graduating exercises, my father and D. R. Van
Buskirk came to Bethany. At the close of the year, during a
protracted meeting conducted by Alex Campbell and Isaac Frrett,
I entered the Christian Church. Returning home in July, 1854,
I began a select school in a new academy at Fayetteville, Ind.,
at a better salary, teaching in the basement of the Christian
Church. This was in 1858. In 1859, I visited Missouri and
taught five months at Farminston, St. Francois County. Plenty
of students but no money here caused my return to Fairview, where
I taught three years, marrying in the meantime i-^iss Demia Thayer
of Shelby County, Ind. In 1864 I taught at Rushvllle, whence in
March, 1865, I was called to the professorship of mathematics in
the Northwestern Christian University, Indianapolis, which posi-
tion I now retain. In 1370 Indianapolis experienced a real estate
boom, one of the results of the phenomenal prosperity which follow-
ed the Civil War. I made several thousand dollars, obtained leave
of absence for two years, and August 30, 1873, embarked with my •
family and brother Allen, who had just graduated, for Heidelburg,
Germany. We spent one delightful year in this beautiful town, dis-
turbed only by the long illness of our youngest boy, Wade Thrasher.
Vihile here I visited the Rhine, took steamer from Mayence to Cologne
enjoying much the historic castles and town along this famous
stream. Returning, we visited Frankfort, Worms, Maunheim; visit-
ing in the first the birth- house of G-oethe, the Inden-gasse, the
street of the Rothschilds: in the second, the Luther monument and
the old cathedral famous for standing on the site of a former one,
the scene of a duel described in the old German poem, the Nibelun-
gen Lied. -Ye made innumerable pedestrian tours In the neighbor-
hood of Heidelburg, passing many days in and around the ruins of
the old castle, probably the most interesting ruin, architecturally
in Germany. We often sat, listening to lectures by Professor Kirch-
hoff of Chair of Physics, known for his invention of the spectro-
scope, and by Professor Bunsen, the chemist, famous the world over .
for his scientific discoveries. In October, 1873, I visited Vienna.
Austria, via Stuttgart, Ulm, Augsburg and Saltzburg. Here we spent
a week looking at the V.'elt-Ausstellung or World's Exposition. In
March, 1874, I made the tour of South Germany, Switzerland and Italy
returning via Munich and the Brenner Pass in the mountains of the
Tyrol. Going, we passed into Italy at Turin, through the Mont Cenis
Tunnel. I enjoyed thoroughly the Historic spots I had read of from
childhood. I visited Genoa, with its Columbus monument: Bologna °nc
its university; Florence and its twin art galleries in the tfffizi
snd PItti palaces on opposite banks of the river ?.mo; Pisa, and its
leaning tower of white marble, and the cathedr?! in which swings to-
day the lamp which suggested to Galilleo the pendulum; Rome with its
St. Peters, its Coliseum, its p.pplan ''.ay, its aqueducts and Pantheon:
Naples with its adjacent Vesuvius and Baiae, the resort of the fash-
ion of Rome; Venice and its square of St. Mark, its Bridge of Sighs,
its canals, gondolas and Rialto; Verone and Its amphitheatre and the
garden of the scene between Romeo and Juliet; Milan with its cathe-
dral, a symphony in marble. In March, 1873, we left Heidelburg for
Paris via Strassburg. We ascended the cathedral at the latter n].-co
and from its roof, 250 ft. high, got an extended view of Rhino Voile,
We spent six weeks in Paris, threaded most of the streets, parks
and gardens and cemeteries. V/e enjoyed the splendid art galleries
of the Louvre, whose contents were mostly stolen from Italy by
Napoleon. We then crossed the channel from Dieppe to New Haven
and thence to London, where v/e spent a week visiting the parks,
palaces, club houses, Westminster, the tower, the museum, the
national Gallery. We visited also the old exposition building,
the Crystal Palace at Sydenham. Then, via Rugby and Liverpool, we
reached our steamer for New York, the "Egypt." I learned much,
while abroad, of the resources for studying mathematics in English
French, and German. After returning, I spent several years in care-
ful study of the classics in the higher mathematics in these three
languages. We removed, in 1876, v'^th the college, to Irvington,
where we since reside. We have five children; three girls, Corinno,
Nettie and Sally Blanche; two boys, A.llen Wade and Raymond. Corinne
became Mrs. Orville Garvin, residing at Irvington, and Sally the
wife of A. J. Brown of Grand Rapids, Mich. Mr. Carvin travels for
the firm of Fahnley, f.'cCrea & Co., Indianapolis, while Mr. Brown is
a wholesale and retail seedsman. In 1837 I planted a ten-acre
ranch in Riverside navel oranges at Riverside in Southern California
hoping to receive from it an income in old age." Wade is a. physi-
cian in Indianapolis.
LIZZIE THRASHER (1836-1884), the next child, was educated at
the Fairview Academy. She married at eighteen, Jas. P. Orr of Cin-
cinnati, a schoolmate. He was a genius, and had enough talent for
a half a dozen men. He was an eloquent minister; a Normal School
Principal at Cincinnati, a surgeon in the Civil War; an orange-
grower' in Florida; Lizzie died at the writer's house in Cincinnati
of typhoid fever in 1884, having just returned from Florida. She
was distinguished for her charity and hospitality. She left a hus-
band and but one child, a son, Ovid Orr, -who is now a physician. A
Cincinnati paper of that date thus speaks of her death: "Lizzie
Thrasher Orr, the noted Sunday-school worker, died yesterday at
Milford, beloved by all who knew her."
JOHN P. THRASHER (1838), was the second son of Woodson W.
Thrasher, born in 1838, and was educated at the Fairview Seminary,
under Prof. A. R. Benton. In 1862 he married Miss Lou Walker of
Cincinnati, a young woman of lovely character, who has made for
him an ideal home. They have been blessed with four children, two
dying in infancy, and two surviving. Ada, born January 27, 187 5,
now an attractive young lady, and a graduate in the vilDage Sem-
inary; and George, born February 22, 1867, a successful young mer-
chant in Oklahoma. I will give a brief extract of John's life as
furnished me by himself:
"I graduated at the Cincinnati Law School in 1853. Practiced
law in 1859-60 at Kokoma, Ind. Volunteered In the Sixteenth Regi-
ment, Ind . Vol. Infantry, In April, 1861, and served one year; was
a private for the first three months; then was promoted to "Brigade
Ordinance Sargeant, " and served in that capacity until mustered out
at Washington, D. C, in May, 1862. Since that time I have lived
on my farm at Fairview."
IT
3D
MARION THRASHER (1842), the writer, was born in Payette Co...
Ind., on March. 13, 1342. He attended the village schools and
seminary, subsequently the University (N. '.7. C.) at Indianapolis,
Ind. In 1862-63, he attended the Medical Department of the Uni-
versity of Michigan, and in 1864-65, practiced medicine in Raleigh,
Ind. In 1864, married Miss Sarah Murray, a daughter of James
Murray, and grand- daughter of Prof. James Alexander Murray, an old
Glasgow professor, and schoolmate of Carlyle's. Two children have
been born to them- -Clarence, who died in infancy in 1866, and
Carroll, born in 1876. The following biogr?,phical sketch is taken
from "Hoag's California 1 ':
"Dr. Marion Thrasher was born in Indiana, graduated at Butler
University, and was for years a College Professor. He began his
medical studies under his brother-in-law, Dr. James P. Orr of Cin-
cinnati, took a medical degree in the University of Michigan, and
subsequently graduated in the medical department of the University
of California. He is a member of the San Francisco Medical Society,
and the American Medical Association. He has frequently contri-
buted medical theses before the latter Association, which papers
have been published in !, The Journal of the American Medical Asso-
ciation." He has a wife, Mrs. S. M. Thrasher, the editor of the
Search Light, a literary paper of some note. They have a son,
Carroll, born August 9, 1376, now a senior in Trinity College."
They live in San Francisco.
HARRIET THRASHER (1844-1874), was educated at the Fairview
Seminary, Indiana. She married Doctor Samuel Hell, of Philadel-
phia, Ind. She died at the birth of her second child, in 1374.
Her first child survived, Charles Bell, who is now a promising
young physician of Cincinnati.
SARAH THRASHER (1847), the third daughter,, graduated at Leba-
non College, Ohio; married a schoolmate,-' Mr. A. '.'/. Vandeman, Jure
9_. 1874; moved to Hebraska, where he became a prominent educator.
'They subsequently located, in Denver, Colo., where they now reside.
They have had three children, f^racie Thrasher, Herbert Allen, and
Carl Louis. C-racie died Jan., 4, 1331; ^ert and Carl, aged 16
and 12.
ALLEN 3EMT0"- T THRASHER (1351), graduated at Sutler University,
Indiana, s^ent some years in Europe in Heidelberg, returned and
graduated in medicine at the Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati. He
is now a widely knem medical practitioner in Cincinnati and stands
high among his medical confreres. He married, in 1838, Miss Edith
Milliams of Cincinnati, and they have three children, Barbara, Ruth
and Corinne , They have a handsome home at Mr. Auburn, a Cincinnati
suburb . They are both highly educated, have traveled extensively
in this and foreign lands, are v/ell mated, and have the rare
faculty of enjoying life at its best.
OLLIE THRASHER (1855), received a seminary education, as the
other children. She married Mr. Marshall Blacklidge, of Rushville,
Ind., a ■"•oung man from one of the best families of that section.
They have a lovely home, and one child, a boy, Allen, born in 1891.
(32)
MARY THRASHER, eldest daughter of John and Elizabeth Thrasher
was horn in Kentucky, November 19, -131?. Moved to Indiana in 1824
with her parents. She married Jacob R. Power in October 17, 1335.
They had five children, three girls and two boys: a sirl and boy
died young. Julius Power, a promising boy, born in 1843, entered
the Rebellion and died of fever. Ester married Mr. Ball and has
two children. Maria married Mr. Nlckerson and has two children,
.girls .
1816-1886. 1816.
NANCY THRASHER (PRINE). DANIEL S. PRINE.
EIGHT CHILDREN.
■VILLI AM H. JOHN W.
MARY J. ELIZABETH P.
MATTHEW M. NANCY C.
HARRIET A. SARAH P.
(The following sketch sent by Mr. William H. Prine of Iowa.)
NANCY THRASHER (1816-1336), second daughter of John and Eliza-
beth Thrasher, was born in Pendleton County Ky., in 1816. At the
age of eight she came to Rush County, Ind., with her parents. Here
she was educated and on October 5, 1837, in her twenty-first yecr,
she married Daniel S. Prine, a neighboring farmer's boy of good
family. • In 1850 they moved to Oskaloosa, Iowa, where she resided
till her death, April 18, 1886, loved and respected by all who knew
her. V/illlam Huston Prine was born February 16, 1839. Yfas married
to Priscilla I Coffin, September 11, 1862. They have two children,
Lillie I. and Eva R. Lillie was born in 1854 and married in 1888
to John M. Jackson and now reside at Colorado Springs. They have
two children, Ray and Grace, aged eight and four. Eva R. las "corn
in 1872. Mary J. Prine was born in 1840; married George W. Corwin
In 1862. Have two children, Russel and Rella, both married. Russel
married Miss Williams in 1890, and has one son, Russel. Rella
married Mr. Roberts. Matthew M. Prine was born in 1843 and married
Emma J. Turner in 187 9. They have one son, Homer, born in 1879.
Harriet A. Prine, born in 1345, married Charles H. Rodgers in 1369.
They had two children, Estella, born in 1871, died in 1873, and
Frank, born in 1876. Harriet A. Prine died in 1879. John "/. Prine
(1351). Elizabeth P. Prine, born in 1849, married Jacob M. Fines
in 1870. They have one son, George, born in 1877. Nancy C. Prine,
born in 1852, married Samuel -L. Lathrop in 1885. Have one son, Ray,
born in 1890. Mr. Lathroo shot and killed himself accidentally
when Ray was two weeks old. Sarah P. Prine, born in 1853, married
Jacob M. Turner, 1884. Have no children.
(Hr. W. L. Thrasher sends me the following biography of his father
and family: )
WILLIAM P. THRASHER (1318-1862), son of John and Elizabeth
Thrasher, was born in Kentucky, August 25, 1818; killed in the late
war August 30, 1862, at Richmond, Ky., the father of ten children.
(33)
seven boys and three girls, whom four are living at this date,
November 15, 1893. Woodson W. Thrasher, son of William P. Thrash-
er and Elizabeth Parrish Thrasher, v/as born December 11, 184.0,
and the father of three children, two living and one dead. The
youngest, a son, William Levi Thrasher, was~born May 17, 1866, the
father of one son. Henry R. Thrasher, son of William and Eliza-
beth Thrasher, v/as born November 3, 1847, the father of six child-
ren, two boys and four girls. Amos M. Thrasher, son of V:m. and
Elizabeth Thrasher, v/as born May 27, 1845. Caleb Thrasher, son of
',vm. and Elizabeth Thrasher, born January 20, 1850, died September
3, 1857. John M. Thrasher, son of same above, born June 28, 1352,
died, November 12, 1359. James '-: . Thrr-sher, son of same, born
August 24, 1855, died, December 15, 1359. Caylor Thrasher, son of
William and Elizabeth Thrasher, born March 10, 1857, died Nov., 15,
1859. Amanda Nelson, daughter of William and Elizabeth Thrasher,
born June 5, 1838, died, July 4, 1883. Adeline W. Caylor, daugh-
ter of William and Elizabeth Thrasher, born January 18, 1845, died
November 8, 1865. Mother of three children, one son and two daugh-
ters. Mary Ooty Bagwell, daughter of ''.-.'illiam and Elizabeth Thrash-
er, born April 2, 1859. Mother of eight children, four living and
four dead.
Y/illiam P. Thrasher, carpenter; Woodson W« Thrasher, merchant;
Plenry K. Thrasher, farmer; Amos M. Thrasher, railroad man; William
L. Thrasher, breeder of poultry.
Maria Thrasher was born in 1821. Married Robert T. Wells in
184-5, and died in Fairview, Ind., of cancer, in 1855, leaving five
children,
Josiah Thrasher was born March 13, 1823. Married Amanda Mc-
Connell, September 5, 1844. They moved to Rigdon, Ind. They had
several children, but only five reached maturity. Nancy married
Mr. Noble, Mary married Mr. Rehymer, and Leonidas, Martha and Minnie,
Sarah Waller Thrasher, daughter of John and Elizabeth Thresher
was born June 1, 1826. She was married" to Robert Gordon, a school
teacher of some note, October 15, 1848. They had but one child that
reached adult age, and that was George, who became a physician. Dr.
George Gordon married, practiced Medicine at Centerville, Ind., and
had one child, a boy.
Lucinda Thrasher, daughter of John and Elizabeth Thrasher, was
born May 17, 1828, married Mr. Harvey M. Piner, a young man. from
one of the wealthiest families In the neighborhood, on January 22,
1852. They have two children, Quincy and Edward, both married.
Q,uincy has two children. Edward's wife died recently without issue.
Caroline Thrasher, - daughter of John and Elizabeth Thrasher,
was born March 22, 1832, married Mr. William A. Patterson, April 5,
1851. Have three children, viz.: John, , .
Joseph Thrasher, son of John and Elizabeth Thrasher, was "corn
June 22, 1854, college educated, and became a teacher of marked
ability, married Visa Emma Williams, Sept., 7, 1855, and had thres
children- -Ida, married to Mr. Honzhoff, and lives at Indianapolis,
'Catkins and Emma. Entire family dead exceot Ida.
(34)
'■•;il3 ism, Aaron, Sally, and Janes, we have been unable to
satisfactorily trace.
Stephen Thrasher went to Indiana., and settled south of Fair-
view, married l.'.iss Mary McCarthy, and reared to maturity three
children, Lizzie (1854), John (1633), and Charles (1842). In
1845 Stephen lost his life by a foot injury. Eis wife died in
1385. John and Lizzie live on the home-place, both unmarried,
while Charles is married and lives in Wheeling, W. Va.
\co,
(Too late for Classification.)
EPISTOLARY CORRESPONDENCE sv'ITE DIVERGING BRANCHES OF
THE THRASHER FAMILY.
(V.'m. F. Thrasher was the son of John Thrasher ( 1801-183- ) and
grandson of the John Thresher (1750-1S06), probably, who came
from Wales in 1750 to Redstone, Maryland, and in 1792 to Ken-
tucky near Lexington. The father of Win. F. Thrasher had three
brothers, Elias, Stephen and Eli, and four sisters. All are
dead except Eli, who resides at Lewiston, Mo., aged eighty-fom
Burlington, Iowa, December 11, 1894.
Marion Thrasher, H. D.,
San Francisco, Cal.
3e>>r Sir: I was born in Marion County, Mo., the sixth of June,
1840; my wife, Sarah E. Gregory was born in Lewis County, Mo.,
September 24, 1840. I was married November 8, 1860. John D.,
our son, was born September 13, 1861. Susie Cally was born July
21, 1867, but died January 4, 1893. Alpha was born March 10,
1874. We hod eight children in all, the rest dying in infancy.
I am District Agent of the Union Building and Savings Association
located at Des Moines, Iowa.
I have a sister Sarah, Samuel Miller's wife, of Palmyra,
Marion County, Mo. Have an uncle, Eli Thrasher, of Lewiston,
Lewis County, Mo. My other sister, Jala McRea, lives at Gage,
Texas. I have the honor of remaining,
Yours truly,
W. F. Thrasher.
Springwood, Va., November 5, 1894.
Doctor Marion Thrasher,
My Dear Sir: I am a "Thrasher" born and raided in Virginia.
Name, John a. A. Thrasher; will be seventy years old January 25 ;
1395. My grandfather came from Germany, he and one brother, and
settled in Pennsylvania. My father was born there, moved to
Maryland when two years old, lived there sixteen years, moved to
Botetourt County, Va., where he spent the remainder of his days.
Grandfather's family are all dead. My oldest sister is eighty-
five years old, Mrs. Margaret Lines, lives with her son, Dr. F.
Lines, Fort Wayne, Ind. My second sister, Mrs. Adeline Zimmer-
man, eighty-three yesrs old, living in Fincastle, Botetourt County,
Va. My third sister, seventy-four years old, Mrs Mary McCartney,
living"in Craig County (address Ripley Mills). My fourth sister,
sixty-eight years old, Mrs. Susan Firebaugh, living near Fincastle,
Botetourt County, Va . My father's family consisted of twelve chil-
dren. I am the eighth child. I have a n'-.phew merchandizing in
Springwood, Botetourt County, Va . , named V.'. T. Thrasher. Also, I
(36)
have a nephew living near Lithia, Botetourt County, Va., name
J. M. Thrasher. With regards, I an,
J. Q. A. Thrasher,
Springwood, Botetourt County, Va.
(The following furnished me "by l"rs. Johnie Travis Thrasher
O'neal, of Dothan, Ala., traces J. Cloud Thrasher's family--
J. Cloud Thrasher "being a son of David Thrasher (1796-1882).)
Dothan, Ala., November 16, 1894.
Dear Cousin:
As Papa (John Thomas Thrasher) was too busy to write, he
asked me to give you as much information as we could. The fam-
ily record is at Jacksonville, Pla. Papa's stepmother has it,
Mrs. C. V. Thrasher, care of Z. J. Blaire. James Cloud Thrasher
was first married to Nancy Travis. (See record at Jacksonville.;
They had six children. John Thomas Thrasher was born in Nekton
Count:/, Ga., in 1374, February 15. In 1868 he was married to
Ophelia Reynolds, daughter of Captain A. ?.*. Reynolds, at Jeffer-
son, Jackson County, C-a. They have six children, three girls
and three boys. Jessie May Thrasher was born at Lake City, Pla.,
September 5, 1869. She was married to Wallace M. Hunter, of
Cat skill, N. Y., in April 24, 1889, at Quitman, C-a. They have
two children--0phella Hunter was born at Quitman, Ga., in 1890,
March 20. Mary Essie Hunter was born at Quitman, Ga., November
12, 1892. They live now in Dothan. James Munroe Thrasher was
born in Thomas County, Ga., January 19, 1871. He was married to
Maggie L Barnes, of Quitman, Ga., on April 26, 1890. Maggie
.Thrasher died July 12, 1892, at Quitman. Annie lives with her
grandfather, John Thrasher. Mary Thrasher was born at Quitman,
Ga., July 24, 1873; was married to Dr. W. I. Johnson, of Troy,
Ala., October 11, 189.3. They live in Dothan. Johnie Travis
Thrasher was born September io, 1375, at Quitman, C-a. She was
married July 8, 1894", to W. C. O'Neal, of Dothan, Ala. David
Barton Thrasher was born at Quitman, Ga., March 11, 1879. Jelks
Reynolds Thrasher was born at Quitman, October 17, 1331. I'll
eive vo\i all I can of the other children of grandfather. Mary F.
Thrasher, in 1843, and died at Lake City, Fla., 1365 or 1866.
Nancy Rebecca Thrasher was born about 1850. v/as married to C. 7 -'.
Henry about 1870; died 1832, leaving one girl and four boys. For
their births and. ages write to Joe Henry, Jacksonville, Fla.,
'■5. J. Blaire. David Barton Thrasher was born 1852. I think wps
married to Annie Rountree at Quitman in 1371. They have five boys
the little girl died about two months ?z°' ?or their address D.
B. Thrasher, Jacksonville, Fla. Jesr-e '.'.bitfield Thrasher w? s born
in 1854; v/as married to Jennie Mcmullen, in 1877, and hes t<-o
"•iris and five boys. '..'rite to J. "7. Thrasher, juitman, Ga. James
"*uckh=nan Thrasher was born about 1356, w<?s burned to death, 1359,
by followir." cook to '-ash not. Grandfather's second wife ":■: r.
; 7)
Catherine F. "tighey. She has four children by their union; the
two boys -^re dead.: the two ^irls --.re married, and have three or
four children each--"r3 James Canter pnd Vrs. A. J. ^laire, Jack
sonville. Grandf ather, J. Cloud Thrasher, died September 23 ;
1879, in Newton County, G-a., and v. r as buried at the Thrnsher Cev.'.
tery, Sincerely,
Mrs. W. C. O'Neal.
1796-1B43,
J03SPH THRASHER
Founts intown, Tnd . ,
October 17, 1894.
Dr. j.'arion Thrasher,
Dear Cousin; In reply to yours of the 29th ult. --Joseph' s
children: Neredith, born Ar)ril 14, 1819, married '51i?.abeth Wal-
ker. His children v;ere John, Mary and Flisabeth. I do not knov?
the date of his death nor the whereabouts of his children. Mary,
born July 6, 1821, married to 'Villiam Brown, a merchant of Shelby-
ville: had only one child, died in infancy. Elizabeth, born Feb.,
21. 1S2S, married to Luke Davis February 1, 1844; two children,
Allen and Sva--I presume you are acquainted with both of them; T2va
is at Aunt Caroline's, near Falmouth, and Allen is at Shelbyville.
Alfred, born June 13, 1825; died November 22, 1325. Leonid?. s L,
born August 13, 1327; married Frances Perr?/ -lay 4, 1848; was a
civil engineer by trade; four children, Melissa, Milton, .-^lice nnd
"••ilburn. Leonidas served through the Mexican 'Var, and at the
breaking of the Civil V/ar raised a company and went out as First
Lieutenant, Third Ind. Battery, Light Artillery; served with dis-
tinction; promoted to captaincy. At present he is stationed at
the Soldier's Home, Marion, Ind., having been transferred from
Dayton, 0. Melissa was married to George Campbell, a farmer necr
Shelbyville . rler two children are ".'/alter and Allie. Milton is
married, but to whom. I do not knO'-. r ; he belongs to the firm of
S. B. rlorris & Co.; his address is Shelbyville, Ind.; write to
him, he can inform you on the history of his father and sisters
and brothers better than I. Alice married a farmer by the name
of V/eir, Frank V/eir, a well-to-do farmer; live near Acton, Ind.
Milburn is ur.knovn; supposed to be in Texas. Napoleon B., born
October 12, 18.70, died April 12, 1377; unmarried; a weaver by-
occupation; served through the Civil War as bugler; v/a3 out five
years ?nd three months.
William R., born in Shelbyville, Ind., February 21, 1832;
carpenter by trade; married Naomi J. Kennedy; four children, Joel,
Tressie, Robert and Naomi: only one survives, Tressie; by William
R's second marriage to Fmily C. Noore, M.nrch 23, 1862, nine chil-
dren, Versylia 0., born February 3, 1863, married to T. H. T-?dlock,
a blacksmith, at Noah, December 25, 1885; have four children, Er-
nest, Fannie, Willie, and ? : ary. './. W., born December 26, 1864,
married Hala A. Scotton, at Indianapolis, July 31, 1895: carpenter.
158)
Fannie B., born November 30, 1866; married to S. F. T. Steirs
August 18, 1866; blacksmith at Little Blue. Samuel L., "corn
June 6, 1869; married Ida Nichols, June 15, 1390. John 3., 'born
April 13, 1871; blacksmith hy trade. Charles H., born August 1,
1874. Jesse A., born February 1?, 1377. Albert d., born July
18, 1879. Stella M., bo rn July 31, 1882. John, bo rn August 11,
1834, married Sarah A. La Fevers; two children, Maggie and Ma-
tilda; served in the late war; died at Nashville, Term., during
service. Joseph, born January 4, 1837: married to Melvina La
Fevers; two children, Melv^rna and I'elvin; Meivin is a painter by
trade. Malinda M., born January 31, 1840; married to John Perry,
a carpenter; two children, Forrest and Fannie. I am glad to know
who your father was. I know how closely we are related. The above
are my grandfather's children and their posterity. Below I will
give you the names and addresses of all the Thrashers, or relatives
to the Thrashers, excepting my own immediate family: Meredith' s
children I know nothing of; Allen Davis, Shelbyville, Ind.; Eva
Irwin, Falmouth, Ind.; Melissa Campbell, Shelbyville, Ind,; Mil-
ton Thrasher , Shelbyville- Ind.; Alice Weir, Acton, Ind.: M.aggie
Williams. Shelbyville, Ind.; Matilda Thrasher, Shelbyville, Ind.:
Melvin Thrasher, Shelbyville, Ind.; Fannie Jackson, Noah, Ind.;
John Thrasher, Shelbyville, Ind.; William Little, Shelbyville, Ind;
John and Nelson Thrasher, Richard and Benjamin Mullen, Demossville,
Ky.; Richard Anderson, Butler, Ky.; William and Charles Thrasher,
Indianapolis, Ins. There is a Reuben Thresher in Colley, Pa., a
dealer in musical Instruments: I have been unable to trace him;
perhans it would be well to write him. We have relatives in Mew
York City, and by writing to William Little, at Shelbyville, you
can get their postoffice address. Any further information will be
cheerfully given. My postoffice is Fountaintown, Ind. Info rel-
ation to Noah, Ind., will reach me. I am truly,
IV . W . Thr a sher .
(The following received from Mary V. Thrasher Cherry of Canton,
Mo., giving a^brief history of the Thrasher family in Missouri.)
Canton, Mo., November 22, 1894.
Doctor Marion Thrasher,
Dear Cousin: My grandfather was John Thrasher; do not
know the date, of his birth or death; he had four daughters, all
of whom are dead. Also, four sons--John, Elias, Stephen and Eli,
all dead but Eli. John Thrasher lived in Marion County, this
State; raised a large family of children — seven daughters and four
sons. Uncle John has been dead several years, and only two daugh-
ters and two sons living. John Thrasher of Brashear, A.dair Co.,
this State; William F. Thrasher of Burlington, Iowa. If you write
to them you can get date3, and further particulars. Uncle Elias
died many years a.p-o, but I know left three sons by his first wife,
Rarely: slisha, Willis and John. They went to California in an
earlv dav. For awhile they wrote us, but have not heard from any
(39)
of them, for a long time. Have beer, told Cousin 7/illis was the
only one living, do not know his address. My father, Stephen P.
Thrasher, v/as born in Kentucky in 1805; moved to Missouri in an
early day, and located in Lewis County. He was twice married.
First to Miss Lucinda Mullen, by whom he had three children, Issac,
James and Sarah. His second wife (my mother), was Hiss Sarah Hush,
by whom he had six children- -Mary V. (my name), Gabriel k., John '.'.'.
Nancy F., Elizabeth :>.'.., Laura J. --in all five daughters and four
sons. Father died in 1379. There are only two sons and three
daughters living. Brother Isaac was a pilot on the Mississippi
River, and died several years ago at Hannibal of small-pox.
Brother J. M. Thrasher Is living in Sullivan County, Mo.; his
Tostoffice address is Winnegan: he has a large family of children,
Sister Sarah ".'.'orris is living near Shelbina, Mo. She has two
daughters. I had two children by my first husband- -a son and
daughter — both married. Brother C-. A. Thrasher has been living
in Kansas for several years, but is now living here; he has a fam-
ily of five grown children, all sons but one. His address is Can-
ton. Brother John "■<'. also moved to Kansas years ago. In ipril
1889, went west, and since the following August we have not heard
from him; we fe?r he is dead; he had two sons--one living in Okla-
homa, and one in Arlington, Kansas. Sister N. F. Moffett Is liv-
ing in Kahoka, Clark County. She has a family of seven children —
four daughters and three sons (interesting children). Sisters
Elisabeth and Laura died in young womanhood. Uncle Eli is living,
is about eighty-four and very poorly now. If you will address rim
at Lewiston, this County and State, you can get older records than
I can give you. Your cousin,
M. V. Cherry.
1765.
ELI AS THRASHER.
(Ellas Thrasher, one of the five brothers, went to Missouri,
and had five sons, viz: John F., Elisha, Stephen, Willis, Eli.
Joel F. Thrasher, of Hannibal, Ho., a grandson of John F.,
writes me of that branch of the family.)
November 4, 1694 .
Hr. Marion Thrasher, M. D.,
Dear Sir: The John F. Thrasheryou spoke of was my grand-
father. There were five brothers-- John F., Elisha, Stephen,
Vvillis, Eli: all of these are dead "out Eli. His Post Office
is Lewiston, Lewis County, Mo. These all came from near Lex-
ington, Ky. John F., had four sons. Tommy, John R., Joel, Will-
iam, of whom Tommy and Joel are dead. John R., postoffice, Hra-
shear, Adair County, ?*o. ' illiam, postoffice, Burlington, Iowa.
Elisha I cannot <?ive you any information about. Stephen had two
sons. I think you can get all the Information about them by
wr it in g to Mary" Cherry, at Canton, Mo. Of 'Villis, I cannot ~ive
•my information. Eli had six sons, John, George, '.Villiom, Ir;,
Sam, Frank, all living. John, George, Trn , to Fr*nk ->re liv!.-
(40)
near Lewiston, Lev/is County , v o. Cannot give you V.'Illia~i or Sam's
address. Sons of John P., four. Tommy, I cannot give the num-
ber of his sons, but write to John Thrasher, Brashears, Adair Co.,
Mo., for Information. John R., one son; he is in Calif ornis.
Joel had three sons, John P., Porter, Joel P.; Porter is dead;
John P., postoffice, Broway, Hannibal, Mo.; Joel P., Hannibal, Mo.
William, of Burlington, la., had two sons living near his father's.
There are still smaller children, but none of age.
I an respectfully yours,
Joel P. Thrasher, Hannibal, Mo.
(Dr. J. Dorsey Thrasher of Forest Eill, W. Va . , sends me the
following, relative to his branch of the family in Virginia.)
Forest Hill, W. Va., November 22, 1894.
My great great grandfather Thrasher was born in Germany and came
to Berelcay County, Virginia, now West Virginia. I cannot find,
out his name. His sons were Powell, Mike, Conrad, George and.
Fredric. All of them settled in Virginia. Fredric, my great
grandfather, was born in Virginia, September 21, 1769; married
Nancy Filson in April, 1794, and died 1852. He was a farmer and
father of the following children: Margaret, born April 2, 1796;
Stafle, born February 2, 1798; Polly, born March 2, 1800; John,
born October 22, 1802; Robert, born' November 2, 1804; Sarah, born
February 27, 1807; j-.nna, born July 26, 1809; Delila, born March
25, 1811; Rhodah, born July 10, 1813; Paul, born September 11,
1815. Robert Thrasher, my grandfather, born November 2, 1804, in
Virginia, married .Susan Campbell at Big Lich, Va . , now Roanohe
City, November 12, 1828; came to West Virginia two years later;
settled in the forests of Monroe County: cleared a thousand-acre
farm, which is now very valuable; died about Hay 1365; was father
of the following children: Leroy C. Thrasher, born December 29,
1850; F. G. Thrasher, born November 24, 1834; C. R. Thrasher;
Margaret M. Thrasher, born February 1836; Ann E. Thrasher, A. P.
Thrasher, T. R. Thrasher. Leroy C. Thrasher, my father, born
December 29, 1830, In Monroe County, '■'.'. Va.; graduated in medi-
cine at Richmond Medical School, March, 1852; located at Red Sul-
phur Spring, '.'.'. Va., 1354, where he followed his profession with
distinction until his death, January 29, 1830; married Lucy J.
Thrasher, February 14, 1854: was father of the following children:
J. Dorsey Thresher, born M?.y 14, I860; R. H. Thrasher, born June
18, 1864; 0. L. Thrasher, born September 17, 1863. J. Dor3ey
Thrasher, born at Red Sulphur Springs, Monroe County ; W. Va.,
May 14, I860. Graduated in medicine at Richmond Medical School
in" 1876; located at Forest Hill, Summers County, W. Va., in June
of same year; married Emma Campbell, January 2, 1881; is father of
the following children: Horace C. Thrasher, born October 6, 1881;
Claude L. Thrasher, born March 26, 1886; Dorsey Glenn Thrasher,
born March 11, 1389, died September 16, 1391; Paul G. Thra.^her,
born December 31, 1892. ' Yours,
J. Dorsev Thrasher, ".. D.
(41)
Florence, Ala., Oct 13, 1894
Doctor Marion Thrasher:
My grandfather, Elias Thrasher, came from England; he bad
two "brothers, Thomas and Gsorie; Thomas went to Georgia, George
to Alabama, and Grandfather Eliaas to Loudoun County, Va. Ky
grandfather, Elias Thrasher, died in 1823, in Loudoun County,. Va;
do not know the date of his birth; he had the following children:
Thomas, Luther, Malinda, Sarah Ann. Elias, Hanson, Archer, John,
Vi'illiam 3. L., and Amanda. My father's name was William B. L.
Thrasher; his children were Pugh H., John C, Eattie Ann, Elias,
Thomas, Emily, Elissie, Henson, "ike, James. I was married when
thirty-five years old, to Miss Farmer; had. six children, four-
only living: Q . F. Thrasher in Texas, William B. in Arkansas; a
daughter married a Thrasher, and lives here, and another married
.T. T'T. "villi ams . I was in the Federal army as Captain; am ? me-
chanic: have been a widower seven years. Elias lived in Daymen,
Ohio; Hanson in Florence, Alabama; Archer in lole, Kansas; John
in Maryland, and Vm. R. L., in Alabama,
Trul^ vours, Elias Thrasher.
Demossville, Ky., March 31, 1894.
Doctor Marion Thrasher:
Dear Sir: My father, Aaron Thrasher, was born in 1308, and
died in 1382; he" was married in 1832, to I'iss Susannah M. Ander-
son, and lived vith her until his death; she lived till 1384.
His occupation was farming and milling until 1853,. when he went
into merchandizing and remained in the business until a short
time before his death. He had four children; three boys lived
to maturity; I will give their ages: 0. F. Thrasher, 60 yeors:
J. R. Thresher. 53 v^or>o. w. ■■'. Thrasher, 52 years. Ky grand-
father's name wps Stephen Thrasher, and he lived and died in 3v:-n-
tuckr: h° die^ 1 in 1833 : he had five brothers: they were all horn
at P-adstone, ?'d., and then three came to Kentucky, one went to
Geororia, and one to Arkansas, I will give you a list of my nicest
aunts': Sarah Thrasher married Lahnah^n Dougherty; Mary Thrasher
married a man bv the name of James Titus. "'y half-aunt's name was
Elizabeth Thrasher: she married a man by the name of Richard pugit
From the best information that I can get they all came to Kentucky
in 1793.
Yours most respectfully,
J. B. Thrasher.
(Sketch of Rev. G. R. Thrasher's life.)
Beattyville, Ky., November 13, 1894.
Dear Sir: I have been in the ministry (Baptist) four years. 7
am thirty-three years old. rave three brothers--^. 2. Thrash'-.r,
230., 'Vatkinsville, Ga.; I. C. Thr-_- sher, farmer, and T. H. Thr- .-h:
:*. "d.
(42)
My father Barton G. Thrasher died In 1876--my grandfather,
Isaac Thrasher, died in 1373. Kattie Bishop, Watkinsville, Ga.:
Ola Jackson, Winder, Ga.; Fannie Baxter, La Grange, C-a., are sis
ters of mine. My father's three brothers- -Thomas, William, and
John--are all dead.
Their families live in Oconee Co., Ga. The family have al-
ways been prolific and wherever they settled have stocked the
earth. Yours,
G. B. Thrasher.
(From Mr. J. S. Thrasher, son of John James Thrasher (1818),
"Cousin John," grandson of David Thrasher (1796-1332), great
grandson of John Thrasher (1761-1840).)
Brunswick, Ga., October 29, 1894.
Dr. Marion Thrasher,
San Francisco, Cal.
Your card just received, which I shall
answer as fully as I am able. First my father, known as :f Cousin
John T! Thrasher, the founder of Atlanta, Ga., seventy-five years
of age, is living at Pasadena, Fla. ?*y grandfather, David
Thrasher, died at the age of eighty-six, ten years since. His
brothers, Barton and Isaac, are dead--died in this State. They
all left many heirs. My father had eight children, Jesse S.,
Barton C, David 0., Willis S., Johnnie J. (died at nine), Mar-
garet V.,'l,!ary D., Sllen B. (dead). All the family reside in
Florida but myself. My family live in Chattanooga, where I am
rearing uo a family of six — four girls and two boys: Paul, Silas,
Mary B., Emma, Maggie D., and Ruth. 'He. are Baptists: some of the
name a.re Methodist3. Father's family-'-four boys. I am fifty
years old the twenty- seventh day of January, 1395. And I am glad
to 3ay that we were brought up in Atlanta, and were raised to
manhood and womanhood, and no stain upon the character of the
girls, and the boys so behaved as to avoid arrest or even suspi-
cion of crime. Our father prior to the war was very rich for
this country, and enjoyed, and still enjoys, a reputation that
is very good indeed." Atlanta v/ill tell you of his standing.
Respectfully, J. S. Thrasher.
Watkinsville, Ga., December 12, 1894
Dr. Marion Thrasher,
San Francisco, Cal.,
My mother was Asyneth Thrasher, daughter
of Barton Thrasher. She had six children--Ann Olivia, Mary
Frances, Nicholas, Barton, ^asil Sari, and Asyneth Caroline.
Very truly, B. 2. Over by,
Sheriff of Oconee Co., Ga .
(43)
(Mr. James M. Thrasher, of Winigan, Mo . , son of Stephen P.
Thrasher (1805-1879), grandson of John Thrasher, sister of
Mrs. Mary V. Thrasher-Cherry, of Canton, Mo., forwards me
the following:)
Y/inigan, Mo., December 19, 1894.
Dr. Marion Thrasher,
San Francisco, Cal.
Dear Sir: I herewith give you the information requested.
I was born September 17, 1832. I married Martha M. Pickerel
February 15, 1855. She was born in Mason County, Ky., April
21, 1836. The names of my children are as follows: Isaac H.,
born December 31, 1855; Laura J., born March 21, 1856: Oliver
C, born November 4, 1860; Joseph A., born November 24, 1862;
Stephen H., born October 31, 1964; Martha F., born May 11,
1867; Minnie V., born January 23, 1869; Lillie B., born June
22, 1872; John W., born April 18, 1874. Laura J. married F.
Greenstreet, V.'inigan, Mo.; Lillie B. Married J. H. Myers, V/ini-
gan Mo.; Minnie V. married A. Haselton, Loeffler, Mo.; Martha
F. married W. A. Johnson, Viola, Mo. The P. 0. address of all
the boys is V/inigan, Mo. Respectfully,
James M. Thrasher.
(Mrs Thrasher-McRae, of Gage, Texas, a daughter of John Thrasher,
of Marion County, Mo., and sister of Wm. F. Thrasher, of Bur-
lington, Iowa, writes me of her own immediate family:)
I was married to S. C. McRae November 27, 1845; born Nov-
ember 17, 1828. I have nine children: Plinoh 2., born September
6, 1843; Eliza F., born July 22, 1851; .John T., born April 30,
1854; Mary V., born July 13, 1857; George \7., born April 11, 1360;
V.'. H., born February 19, 1863; Sarah N., born October 17, 1866;
James P., born October 18, 1869; Charles M., born August 22, 1873.
Mary V. McRae was married to J. K. Bruce September 25, 1881, Geo.
W. McRae was married to Alice House January 30, 1881. J. P. Mc-
Rae was married to Mary Armstrong December 23, 1891. W. H. Mc Rae
was married to Sallie L. Cherry April 9, 1885. Eliza McRae was
married to Wm. Burnsford April 24*, 1383.
(44)
Abbott, Mrs. Lucy, Atlanta, Ga.
Adair, Mrs. Bettle, Atlanta, Ga.
Alberson, Mr., Alpharatta, Ga.
Anderson, Richard, Butler, Ky.
Anderson, Mrs. Margaret, Atlanta, Ga.
Baxter, Fannie, La Grange, Ga.
Bell, Dr. Chas., Cincinnate, 0.
Bishon, Mattie, Watkinsville, Ga.
Behymer, Mary Thrasher, 21 wood, Ind.
Blanford, Mrs. David, Lev/i sport, Ky.
Blacklidge, Olive Thrasher, Rushville, Ind.
Bonzhof, Ida Thrasher, Indianapolis, Ind.
Camp, Mrs. D. C., Atlanta, Ga.
Campberr, Mrs. Melissa, Shelbyville, Ind.
Campbell, Tom, Lewisport, Ind.
Campberr, Mrs. Harriet, Cannelton, Ind.
Cherry, Mary V., Canton, Mo.
Crow, Mrs. Mat, Cora, Ga.
Davis, Allen P., Shelbyville, Ind.
Dimmett, Mrs. Caroline, Falmouth, Ind.
Erwin, Mrs. Elvara D., Falmouth, Ind.
Fegg, Tom, Grandview, Ind.
Gabber t , Eli, Grandviey/, Ind.
Golding, W. E., Shelbyville, Ind.
Gordon, Sarah Thrasher, Falmouth, Ind.
Gregory, Jno. S., Lewi sport, Ky.
Gregory, Jas. Henry, Grissom's Landing, Daviess Co., Ky.
Gabber t, Columbus, Grandview, Ind.
Greer, Leonard, Choccolocco, Ala.
Gabbert, Woodson, Rockport, Ind.
Gunter, Mrs. Bettie, White House, Ga.
Harper, Mrs. Fannie, Camp Hill, Ala.
Harper, Mrs. Captain James, Camp Hill, Ala.
Higdon, R. G. Mrs., Calhoun, Ky.
Huffman, Mrs. Martha, Lewi sport, Ky.
Hughey, David, Wilder, Ga.
Hughey, John, Jacksonville, Fla.
Hull Green, Conyers P. 0., Ga.
Jackson, Barton, Wilder, Ga.
Jackson, Fannie, Noah, Ind.
Jackso n, Fulton, V/ilder, Ga.
Jackson, David, Grandview, Ind.
Jackson, Rev. Luther, Auburn, Ga.
Kelly, Mortha, Lewisport, Ky.
Lear, Amanda Thrasher, Rigdon, Ind.
Little, William, Shelbyville, Ind.
Livingstone, Mrs. Clem., Cora, Ga.
Morgan, Ben E. Howard, Kas.
Miller, Abbie Thrasher, Hawesville, Ky.
Michel, Jennie, Cannelton, Ind.
Mullin, Richard, Demos sville, Ky.
Mullin, Benjamin, Demossville, Ky.
Middlebrook, Barton, Farmington, Ga.
(45;
Noble, Nancy Thrasher, Orestes, Ind.
O'Neal, Johnnie Thrasher, Dothan, Ala.
Orr, Dr. Ovid, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Overby, Mrs Basil, Atlanta, Ga.
Overby, Mrs. Josephine, Farmington, Ga.
Pate, John Robert, Lewisport, Ky.
Pate, Samuel, Lewisoort, Ky.
Pierce, Mrs. Jack, Conyers, Ga.
Piper, Lucinda Thrasher, Falmouth, Ind.
Powers, Jacob, Indianapolis, Ind.
Prine, William Huston, Oskaloosa, Iov/a.
Reed, Mrs. Areyetta, Louisville, Ky.
Roe, Aretta, Hawesville, Ky.
Sample, Mrs. Hester, Lewisport, Ky.
Sawyer, Mrs. Dave, Armiston, Ala.
Scott, Dr. D. YyT. McDonough, Ga.
Scott, James Armstrong, Cora, Ga.
Tadlock, T. H., Noah, Ind.
Taylor, ?£rs. Lillie, Hawesville, Ky.
Thrasher, Alonzo, Covington, Ky.
Thrasher, Mrs. Augustus, Atlanta, Ga.
Thrasher, B. E., Watkinsville, Ga.
Thrasher, Carroll, San Francisco, Cal .
Thrasher, C. B. Dade City, Fla.
Thrasher, Barton, Quitman, Ga.
Thrasher, Mrs. Bettie, Jacksonville, Fla.
Thrasher, Charles, V/heeling, W. Va.
Thrasher, Charles, Indianapolis, Ind.
Thrasher, Mrs. David, Lake City, Fla.
Thrasher, David, Milldale, Ky.
Thrasher, David, Atlanta, Ga .
Thrasher, D. W. Covington, Ky.
Thrasher, D. B., Jacksonville, Fla.
Thrasher, Mrs. David Kughey, Hernando, Fla,
Thrasher, Judge D. 0., Dade City, Fla.
Thrasher, Eli, Lewiston, Mo.
Thrasher, Eli T., Lewisport, Ky.
Thrasher, Edmond, Watkinsville, Ga.
Thrasher, Elias, Florence, Ala.
Thrasher, Rev. G. B., Beattyville, Ky.
Thrasher, F. G., Parisburg, Va.
Thrasher, Dr. G. W., Hillsboro, Ala.
Thrasher, Grafton, Covington, Ky.
Thrasher, J. Q,, A., Springwood, Va.
Thrasher, J. B., Demossville, Ky.
Thrasher, I. C, Watkinsville, Ga.
Thrasher, F. A., Iola, Kas.
Thrasher, James M., Winigan, Mo.
Thrasher, James Cloud, Jacksonville, Fla.
Thrasher, Jesse S., Chattanooga, Term.
Thra::her, Joel F., Hannibal, Mo.
Thrasher, Jo si ah.
Thrasher, John, Shelbyville, Ind.
Thrasher, John.
(46)
Thrasher
Thra.sher
Thrasher
Thrasher
Thrasher
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Thrasher
Thrasher
Thrasher
Thrasher
John, Petri, Ky.
Jno . B .
John, Groves, Ind.
.John.
Dr. J. D., Forest Hill,
John P., Browage, Mo.
Lewi sport, Ky.
(Cousin John)
Groves P. 0.
Brashear, Mo
John ?.,
John J.,
John P.,
John R. ,
John S .
John W.,
W. Va.
Dade City, Fla,
ind.
Quitman, C-a.
Dr. Marion, San Francisco, Cal.
Matilda, Shelbyville, Ind.
Mason, Sherman, Texas.
Melvin, Shelbyville, Ind.
Milton B., Shelbyville, Ind.
Kelson, Demossville, Ky.
Reuben, Collay, Pa.
R. S., Savanna, V'. Va.
Sarah Murray, San Francisco, Cal.
Samuel, Lev/Isport, Ky.
Stephen, Lewisport, Ky.
Hon. Stephen, Oak Lawn, Miss.
Mrs. S. F., Lewi sport, Ky.
Stephen.
Thomas, Lewi sport, Ky.
Thoma s .
Dr. T. H., Watkinsville, Gav
Thomas T., Conyers, Ga.
William Franklin, Lewisport, Ky.
William L., Greentown, Ind.
Dr. W. R., Burkesville, Ky.
William W.j Noah, Ind.
William, Burlington, la.
William, Indianapolis, Ind.
Mrs. Wilson, Montgomery, Ala.
W. E., Dade City, Ala.
Thomas, Dayton, Ohio.
Woodson Walker.
Professor William M., Irvington, Ind,
Dr. Wade, Indianapolis, Ind.
William, Montgomery, Ala.
Turner, Oscar, Su Clair, Wis.
Vrmdegriff, James, Cora, Ga .
Vandegriff, Joseph, Cora, Ga.
Vandegriff, John, Cora, Ga.
Vandegriff, W. C, LIthonia, Ga.
Vandeman, Sarah Thrasher, Denver, Col.
Vineyard, Dock, Forest Hill, W. Va.
Weir, Alice Thrasher, Acton, Ind.
Williams, Maggie, Shelbyville, ind.